Far Hills, N.J. – Fourteen more professional golfers earned full exemptions into the upcoming 2007 U.S. Open by being in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking as of May 28. A total of 72 golfers are fully exempt from qualifying for the upcoming Championship, scheduled from June 14-17 at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa.
In all, three exemption categories were closed as of May 28.
Those who earned full exemptions through the current World Ranking were Robert Allenby, Aaron Baddeley, Angel Cabrera, Tim Clark, Chris DiMarco, Anders Hansen, Charles Howell, Jose Maria Olazabal, John Rollins, Justin Rose, Charl Schwartzel, Vaughn Taylor, Scott Verplank and Lee Westwood. The remainder of the top 50 ranked players (36) was already fully exempt through other criteria.
Howell and Rollins were also among the PGA Tour’s top 10 money winners for this year as of May 28, which earned them a full exemption through a second avenue. The rest of the top 10 money leaders were already fully exempt.
The top two money leaders on the PGA European Tour for 2007 as of May 28 (Henrik Stenson and Retief Goosen) also earned full exemptions but they too were already in the field through other qualifying categories.
One more fully exempt place could be awarded following the close of this week’s Memorial Tournament on the PGA Tour, if the winner is not already fully exempt and it is his second Tour win since last April 24.
Sectional qualifying for the remaining 84 spots will take place at 13 sites on June 4. The first sectional qualifier was held May 28 in Japan with three spots for the U.S. Open field awarded.
Here is the list of the 72 golfers who are fully exempt:
THE 72 PLAYERS WHO ARE FULLY EXEMPT FOR THE 2007 U.S. OPEN
Robert Allenby 16
Stephen Ames 9,16
Stuart Appleby 9,16
Aaron Baddeley 16
Rich Beem 5
Thomas Bjorn 10
Angel Cabrera 16
Chad Campbell 9,16
Michael Campbell 1
Paul Casey 8,10,16
K.J. Choi 9,16
Stewart Cink 9,16
Tim Clark 16
Ben Curtis 4,9
Chris DiMarco 16
Luke Donald 8,9,10,11,16
Allen Doyle 7
Joe Durant 9,16
Johan Edfors 10
Ernie Els 1,4,9,10,16
Niclas Fasth 10,16
Kenneth Ferrie 8
Jim Furyk 1,8,9,12,16
Sergio Garcia 10,11,16
Lucas Glover 9
Retief Goosen 1,9,10,13,16
Todd Hamilton 4
Anders Hansen 16
Padraig Harrington 8,10,16
J.J. Henry 9
Charles Howell III 11,16
David Howell 10,16
Ryuji Imada 8
Trevor Immelman 9,16
Lee Janzen 1
Zach Johnson 3,9,11,12,16
Robbert Karlsson 10,16
Shingo Katayama 14
John Kelly (a) 2
Davis Love III 9,16
Shaun Micheel 5
Phil Mickelson 3,5,6,8,9,11,12,16
Colin Montgomerie 8,10,16
Arron Oberholser 9,16
Nick O’Hern 8,15,16
Geoff Ogilvy 1,8,9,16
Jose Maria Olazabal 16
Rod Pampling 9,16
Tom Pernice Jr. 9
Carl Pettersson 9,16
Ian Poulter 8,10,16
Brett Quigley 9
Richie Ramsey (a) 2
John Rollins 11,16
Justin Rose 16
Rory Sabbatini 9,11,16
Charl Schwartzel 16
Adam Scott 9,11,12,16
Jeev M. Singh 14
Vijay Singh 5,8,9,11,12,16
Jeff Sluman 8
Henrik Stenson 10,13,16
Steve Stricker 8,16
Vaughn Taylor 16
David Toms 9,16
Scott Verplank 16
Anthony Wall 10
Mike Weir 3,8,16
Lee Westwood 16
Brett Wetterich 9,16
Dean Wilson 9
Tiger Woods 1,3,4,5,9,11,12,16
(a) = amateur
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 May 28.
12) Any multiple winners of PGA Tour co-sponsored events whose victories are considered official from April 26, 2006 through June 3, 2007.
13) From the 2007 PGA European Tour, the top two money leaders through May 28.
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 May 28, 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)
