Far Hills, N.J. (April 26) – The United States Golf Association has accepted 8,544 entries, including the entries from the 58 golfers who are already fully exempt into the field, for the 2007 U.S. Open, to be played June 14-17 at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa.
Eighty-eight percent of the total entries were received online, including 706 on the final day (April 25) that applications were accepted. The USGA received 130 entries online in the final hour. The last entry to arrive was from Arvo Voip, a 25-year-old amateur from Magalia, Calif., who beat the 5 p.m. (EDT) deadline by 17 seconds.
The first entry received was from 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur runner-up Carlton Forrester, a 30-year-old from Birmingham, Ala., who submitted his Open entry 12 minutes after the online system went live on March 5.
The youngest golfer to enter was 12-year-old Brad Nelson of Ponte Vedra, Fla. The oldest applicant was 76-year-old Ordean Olson, a professional from Hollywood, Fla., who will turn 77 prior to the championship. He also was the oldest entrant a year ago. Overall, the USGA received entries from golfers in all 50 states and 62 foreign countries.
Among the foreign applicants were professionals Ajay Shah of Kenya and Pierre-Henri Soero of New Caledonia. To be eligible, the player must have at least a 1.4 Handicap Index, or be a professional.
Seven past champions are already fully exempt from having to qualify for the upcoming Championship. They are Michael Campbell (2005); Ernie Els (1994, 1997); Jim Furyk (2003); Retief Goosen (2001, 2004); Lee Janzen (1993, 1998); Geoff Ogilvy (2006); and Tiger Woods (2000, 2002).
In addition, past champions Corey Pavin (1995) and Steve Jones (1996) will try to reach the field of 156 through sectional qualifying in Dallas, Texas, and Columbus, Ohio, respectively. An Open champion receives a full exemption into the field for the next 10 years.
The number of fully exempt golfers will increase with the inclusion of the top 50 players from the World Golf Rankings, the top 10 money leaders on the PGA Tour and the top two money leaders on the European PGA Tour as of June 3.
Local qualifying at 109 sites will begin May 2. Sectional qualifying at 13 sites will be held on June 4, including one in England. Another sectional qualifier will be held May 28 in Japan. It is the third consecutive year that the USGA has offered these two international sectional qualifiers.
The Open is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA. Other championships include the U.S. Women’s Open, the U.S. Senior Open and 10 amateur competitions.
A list of the 58 golfers who are already fully exempt into the U.S. Open follows.
THE 58 PLAYERS WHO ARE ALREADY FULLY EXEMPT FOR THE 2007 U.S. OPEN
(as of 4/25/07)
Steven Ames 9
Stuart Appleby 9
Rich Beem 5
Thomas Bjorn 10
Chad Campbell 9
Michael Campbell 1
Paul Casey 8,10
K.J. Choi 9
Stewart Cink 9
Ben Curtis 4,9,12
Luke Donald 8,9,10
Allen Doyle 7
Joe Durant 9
Johan Edfors 10
Ernie Els 1,4,9,10
Niclas Fasth 10
Kenneth Ferrie 8,
Jim Furyk 1,8,9,12
Sergio Garcia 10
Lucas Glover 9
Retief Goosen 1,9,10
Todd Hamilton 4
Padraig Harrington 8,10
J.J. Henry 9
David Howell 10
Ryuji Imada 8
Trevor Immelman 9
Lee Janzen 1
Zach Johnson 3,9
Robert Karlsson 10
Shingo Katayama 14
John Kelly 2
Davis Love III 9
Shaun Micheel 5
Phil Mickelson 3,5,8,9
Colin Montgomerie 8,10
Arron Oberholser 9
Nick O’Hern 8,15
Geoff Ogilvy 1,8,9
Rod Pampling 9
Tom Pernice Jr. 9
Carl Pettersson 9
Ian Poulter 8,10
Brett Quigley 9
Richie Ramsay 2
Rory Sabbatini 9
Adam Scott 9
Jeev M. Singh 14
Vijay Singh 5,8,9,12
Jeff Sluman 8
Henrik Stenson 10
Steve Stricker 8
David Toms 9
Anthony Wall 10
Mike Weir 3,8
Brett Wetterich 9
Dean Wilson 9
Tiger Woods 1,3,4,5,9,12
Key to Player Exemptions –
1) Winners of the U.S. Open Championship for the last 10 years.
2) Winner and runner-up of the 2006 U.S. Amateur Championship.
3) Winners of the Masters Tournament the last five years.
4) Winners of the British Open Championship the last five years.
5) Winners of the PGA of America Championship the last five years.
6) Winner of the 2007 Players Championship.
7) Winner of the 2006 U.S. Senior Open Championship.
8) From the 2006 U.S. Open Championship, the 15 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 15th place.
9) From the 2006 final official PGA Tour money list, the top 30 money leaders.
10) From the 2006 final official PGA European Tour, the top 15 money leaders.
11) From the 2007 official PGA Tour money list, the top 10 money leaders through June 3.
12) Any multiple winners of PGA Tour co-sponsored events whose victories are considered official from April 24, 2006 through June 3, 2007.
13) From the 2007 PGA European Tour, the top two money leaders through June 3.
14) From the 2006 final Japan Golf Tour money list, the top two leaders provided they are within the top 75 point leaders of the World Rankings at that time.
15) From the 2006 final PGA Tour of Australasia money list, the top two leaders provided they are within the top 75 point leaders of the World Rankings at that time.
16) From the World Rankings list, the top 50 point leaders as of June 3, 2007.
17) Special exemptions selected by the USGA Executive Committee International players not otherwise exempt as selected by the USGA Executive Committee.
Contact:
Craig Smith (csmith@usga.org)
Web address: www.usga.org
USGA phone: (908) 234-2300
