Golf

2024 US Open (Golf): History, Players, Schedule and Prize Money

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Jun 12, 2024 / 9968 Views

Evan Walker

Promising the unique challenges of a Major, and the thrill of competing against the golf world’s best at a venue as iconic as the Pinehurst Resort’s Course No 2, the 2024 US Open comes with an essence that endears even hardened pros. Just ask Tiger Woods, who’ll be back for this week’s Major despite nursing a battered body. Read on to find out more about the 2024 US Open, its storied venue, golf players to watch, schedule, and prize money.

The PGA Tour has made its way to the year’s third Major on the back of engrossing storylines from the Masters Tournament and PGA Championship. Scottie Scheffler won his second Masters in spectacular style at the Augusta National in April to extend an unprecedented season on the PGA Tour, the latest stop being the Memorial high on Sunday, June 9, while Xander Schauffele won the PGA Championship at the Valhalla Golf Club on the heels of a near miss in May.

The US Open comes with a double flavour. It isn’t just about the aura; this is the final event before the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) draws a line to the 60-man field for the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Often termed the toughest of Majors, the US Open returns to one of its most sought-after venues, Course No 2 of the Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, from June 13 to 16, 2024.

From venue history to prize money, event schedule and highlights from last year’s instalment of the golf Major, here’s everything you must know about the 2024 US Open.

2024 US Open: History, key players and prize money of the golf Major

History and significance

In terms of American athletic tradition, only a handful of events can match the legacy of the US Open, which celebrates its 124th edition in 2024.

The first US Open took place on October 4, 1895, over 36 holes at a nine-hole golf course at the Newport Country Club in Newport, Rhode Island.

A one-day event, the first edition featured 10 professionals and an amateur. Horace Thomas Rawlins, a 21-year-old Englishman, emerged victorious and was awarded USD 150 from a USD 335 prize pool, as well as a USD 50 worth gold medal.

In 1898, the tournament was modified to a 72-hole, four-round stroke-play event and whoever made the fewest strokes was the victor. The championship was dominated by British players until 1911, when John J. McDermott Jr. became the first American to win the title.

Soon after, American players began to win regularly, and the comPetition evolved to turn into one of the four Majors.
The United States Golf Association (USGA) organises the US Open in mid-June, with the final round set for the third Sunday assuming no weather delays occur.

Prize purse

The world’s top pros, together with a plethora of ambitious amateurs, will be comPeting for the sterling silver trophy and the hefty winner’s cheque, expected to be in excess of USD 3.6 million out of a corpus of USD 20 million or more.

The USGA put on offer a record USD 20 million purse for the 2023 U.S. Open, making it the richest of the four Major championships. It was a USD 2.5 million increase over the USD 17.5 million prize.

Pinehurst’s storied history

Ranked among Donald Ross’s masterpieces, Pinehurst’s No 2 Course is unparalleled in US Open history.

No venue in the United States has staged a single tournament as many times, and Pinehurst will continue to be in news as future editions return in 2029, 2035, 20242 and 2047.

But above all, Pinehurst matches the USGA’s ethos, which was aptly summed up a few years ago. “Our DNA is to be tough and push it to the edge,” USGA Chief Championships Officer John Bodenhamer told the Golf Channel before the 2021 edition. “We have safeguards in place. But we push it hard. We want to do that, and we’ll do it again.”

The Pinehurst Resort’s No. 2 Course has become accustomed to hosting Major events. Located in North Carolina, Pinehurst boasts nine different 18-hole golf courses, and has hosted the US Open three times in the past: in 1999, 2005, and 2014 (when it also hosted the US Women’s Open).

In addition, the resort has played home to the Ryder Cup, one PGA Championship, and three US Amateur Championships.

The 2024 US Open at Pinehurst will be the first time in over 100 years that the USGA has given four Opens to the same venue in 25 years.

2024 US Open golf schedule

June 13: First round starts at 6:45 am EDT/ 6.45pm HKT.
June 14: Second round.
June 15: Third round.
June 16: Fourth round and trophy presentation. If there’s a tie for first place, this will lead to a two-hole aggregate score play-off and sudden death.

Underdog triumphs in 2023

During the final round at the Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course on June 18, 2023, Rory McIlroy‘s arduous and at times agonising journey towards his fifth Major title was pushed back again.

Instead, Wyndham Clark won. Here was a man in flow, as in early May, Clark broke through for his first PGA Tour wins at the Wells Fargo Championship.

Clark had to strive hard to create his legacy at the North Course. Even when he was leading on the final day, the discussion focused on McIlroy and Rickie Fowler, after he opened the tournament with an 8-under 62 for the lowest score in tournament history and went into the final day with a share of the lead with Clark.

However, underdog stories abound in sport, and Clark certainly fits the bill as he won his maiden Major with an even-par 70 on Sunday for a tournament total of 10-under 270 (64, 67, 69, 70), and a one-shot win over McIlroy. Scheffler finished sole third, two shots adrift of McIlroy.

As someone who missed cut four times in his previous six Major outings, and had a career-best T75 at the 2021 PGA Championship, the moment was a life-changer. Not just for the USD 3.6 million winner’s cheque, but for the nerves of steel Clark displayed when he was under the gun. Like, when he had to chip from a precarious position by the side of the 17th green or putting from 60 feet out towards close. Pulling it off for a slice of history, the 29-year-old Clark broke down.

Field and key players to watch out for

Prior to June 7, Friday night’s cut, the field consists of 156 players. As of June 4, 150 players had either qualified or been granted an exclusive invitation to comgK8iMXFLk5PZe after the completion of US Open final qualifying in 13 sites around the world.
In case there are any last-minute qualifiers using the OWGR, the USGA has reserved six spots in the 156-man field.

On Monday, June 10, any player who is in the top 60 and is not previously exempt will be awarded a berth.

In a field as deep as this, Clark will be keen to make it two in a row. He has to momentum to show with the win at the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and other strong results, but Scheffler and McIlroy will be his biggest challengers.

World No 1 Scheffler has five wins this season — back-to-back titles at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship, and triumphing at the Masters and RBC Heritage in similar fashion. After the Memorial high on Sunday, June 9, Scheffler became only the second player since 1950 with five PGA Tour wins including a Major, before the US Open.

McIlroy, champion in 2011, will fancy his chances too, especially after how he rolled back a lacklustre start to 2024 with the third spot at the Valero Texas Open in April. Wins at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and Wells Fargo Championship off consecutive weeks, and T4 at the RBC Canadian Open last week could be the fuel for another Major assault.

Moving on, Phil Mickelson has incredibly finished second six times, and needs a win here to complete his career Grand Slam.

LIV Golf players Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson have all lifted the US Open, and count among serious contenders in Pinehurst.

Tiger Woods, a three-time champion in 2000, 2002 and 2008, has been granted a special exemption. Tied with Sam Snead at 82 PGA Tour wins, the 48-year-old stands on the cusp of history, and though far-fetched at the moment given his physical condition, there can’t be a better platform than a 23rd US Open appearance to create another nugget of history.

Woods’ 15 Major wins are just three back of Jack Nicklaus’ 18, and USGA official Bodenhamer explained the special exemption.

“The story of the US Open could not be written without Tiger Woods…From his 15-stroke victory at Pebble Beach in 2000 to his inspiring win on a broken leg at Torrey Pines in 2008, this championship is simply better when Tiger is in the field, and his accomplishments in the game undoubtedly made this an easy decision for our special exemption committee,” he said.

More details about the tournament here.

(Main and featured images: US Open Golf/ Instagram)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Where is the 2024 US Open Golf tournament?

The 2024 US Open golf tournament is held at Pinehurst Resort’s Course No 2.

Who is favoured to win the US Open golf?

World no. 1 Scottie Scheffler is among the frontrunners expected to win the event.

How to watch US Open golf 2024?

The tournament will be broadcasted on NBC, USA Network and Peacock, and can also be streamed here.

Who has won the most US Open titles?

Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus have each won the US Open four times.

How many US Open titles has Tiger Woods won?

Tiger Woods has won the US Open thrice in 2000, 2002, and 2008.

Who won the 2023 US Open?

Following the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship triumph, Wyndham Clark won his second PGA Tour event and his first Major championship at the Los Angeles Country Club.

When was the US Open at Pinehurst?

Prior to its 2024 edition, the US Open has been hosted at Pinehurst three times, in 1999, 2005, and 2014.