US Open golf tournament 2009 A-Z

• Monday, 8 June 2009
• Chris O'Hagan
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The 18th hole at Bethpage Black golf course, the home of the 2009 US Open golf championship where Tiger Woods will be defending his title

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Get the A-Z of the 2009 US Open golf championship at Bethpage Black from Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Torrey Pines to USPGA, Padraig Harrington and Phil Mickelson.

A is for A.W. Tillinghurst, designer of the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in 1936.

B is for BETHPAGE BLACK, the course playing host to this year’s golf Championship. Previously hosted the event in 2002, becoming the first municipal course to host the event.  

C is for CONTINENTAL Europe, which is yet to produce a single winner of the U.S. Open.

D is for DEFENDING Champion, Tiger Woods. He will deservedly be the favourite for the event but can the World Number One become the first man to defend the US Open since Curtis Strange in 1989.

E is for ENTRIES, which reached record numbers for this year’s championship at 9,086 including X-Dallas Cowboys Quarterback, Tony Romo, who went in for qualifying.

F is for FIRST win as a pro. This was the case in 1962 for the great Jack Nicklaus at Oakmont. Could someone repeat this feat in 2009?

G is for GRANDSLAM? As is the case every year, after one major, there is only one man left in the quest for a Grand slam, US Masters winner Angel Cabrera. Well he did win the U.S. Open in 2007 so………

H is for HORACE Rawlings, winner of the first U.S. Open in 1895 at the 9-hole Newport Golf and Country Club, with scores of 91 and 82 (then a two round tournament) and recipient of the $150 first prize. Rawlings also just happened to be born on the Isle of Wight.

I is for the IRISH Contingent, which is particularly strong this year including the man who has won two of the last three Majors, Padraig Harrington and also Rory McIlroy, who has been billed as a future World Number One.  

J is for JACKLIN, Tony, who remains the only European winner of the Championship since 1928.  

K is for Tom KITE, who won the 1992 Championship at Pebble Beach, the only Major win by the American.

L is for LEE Janzen, who was the last person to win the event with all rounds in the 60’s in 1993. The two-time winner will be going in at the qualifying stages for this year's Championship.

M is for MICKLESON, Phil, who holds the record for the most runner-up spots in the U.S. Open at 4. Following a good finish in the 2002 tournament at Bethpage, The American will be confident.