Far Hills, N.J. (April 12) – Tom Watson, who won the 1982 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links, has accepted a special exemption from qualifying for the 2010 U.S. Open Championship, which will be played June 17-20 at Pebble Beach.
“I am deeply grateful to the USGA for extending me the invitation to play in the U.S. Open at one of my favorite golf courses in the world, Pebble Beach Golf Links,” said Watson, 60. “Some of my life’s favorite times have been spent near Stillwater Cove. I know there will be more this coming June.”
Watson, the winner of eight major championships in his career, has competed in 30 U.S. Open Championships. He was runner-up in 1983 and 1987 and has 11 times placed in the top 10.
With his addition to the field in 2010, he will become the only player to have played in all five U.S. Open Championships at Pebble Beach, which previously hosted the championship in 1972, 1982, 1992 and 2000.
In his last start in the U.S. Open in 2003 at Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club, Watson was tied for the lead after 18 holes and finished tied for 28th. His first appearance at the U.S. Open was the 1972 championship at Pebble Beach.
In 2009, he captured worldwide attention with his runner-up finish at the British Open Championship at Turnberry. At 59, Watson was the oldest player to lead a major championship after three rounds.
He has received four previous special exemptions into the U.S. Open and finished in the top 30 each time: 1993 (tied for fifth), 1996 (tied for 13th), 2000 (tied for 27th at Pebble Beach) and 2003 (tied for 28th).
The United States Golf Association, which conducts the championship, most recently offered a special exemption for the U.S. Open to Nick Price in 2005.
About the USGA
The USGA is the national governing body of golf in the USA and Mexico. The USGA annually conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open and 10 national amateur championships. It also conducts two state team championships and helps conduct the Walker Cup Match, Curtis Cup Match and World Amateur Team Championships.
The USGA also writes the Rules of Golf, conducts equipment testing, provides expert course maintenance consultations, maintains a Handicap System® and celebrates the history of the game. Since 1983, the USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Program has awarded more than $31 million to more than 400 research projects for better turf and a better environment at universities across the country. The USGA also funds an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program, which has allocated more than $65 million over 13 years to programs that bring the game’s values to youths from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities. For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.
Contact:
Pete Kowalski
Manager, Championship Communications
908-234-2300 x1322
pkowalski@usga.org
