US Open golf timeline

Key dates from the history of the US Open, the second Major of the season

The US Open Trophy

A look at some of the key dates in the history of the US Open...

1895, Newport Country Club: The first ever US Open takes place. Ten professionals and one amateur compete for a $335 purse and a gold medal worth $50. The event consists of 36 holes played on a nine-hole course over one day. Englishman Horace Rawlins wins.

1898, Myopia Hunt Club: The event format is changed to four rounds. However, the Myopia Hunt Club was only nine holes meaning the players completed the course eight times. Scotsman Fred Herd won the competition.

1901, Myopia Hunt Club: Willie Anderson wins his first of four US Open titles.

1910, Philadelphia Cricket Club: Alex Smith secures his second and final Open title. This marked the beginning of the US domination of the tournament.

1911, Chicago Golf Club: John McDermott becomes the first ever American to win the Major and would go on to successfully defend his title the following year at the Country Club of Buffalo.

1913, The Country Club: Francis Ouimet becomes the first amateur to win.

1923, Inwood Country Club: Bobby Jones wins his first of four US Open championships, all as an amateur.

1942 - 1945: Cancelled due to World War II

1960, Cherry Hills Country Club: Arnold Palmer wins his only US Open title despite trailing by seven shots on the final day.

1962, Oakmont Country Club: Jack Nicklaus wins the first of his four US Open titles and 18 majors, beating Arnold Palmer in an 18-hole play-off.

1965, Bellerive Country Club: Gary Player wins his only US Open to become the first person outside of Britain and America to ever win the Major and the first person outside of the US in 35 years.

1970, Hazeltine National Golf Club: The 70th US Open was won by Tony Jacklin who would become the last European to win the championship for 40 years. Jacklin led from day one and secured the title by seven shots.

1980, Oakmont Country Club: Jack Nicklaus wins his fourth and final US Open title.

1994, Oakmont Country Club: Ernie Els wins the first of his two US Open titles. After 18 extra holes Colin Montgomerie was eliminated and Els went on to beat Loren Roberts after two play-off holes, clocking up 92 holes over four days. Els was only the second international player in 24 years to win the championship.

2000, Pebble Beach: Tiger Woods set numerous records as he won his first US Open title in spectacular fashion. Woods 272 equalled the lowest four-round score recorded in a Major and he became the first player ever to record a minus double figure total score of 12-under. Woods went into the final round with a ten-shot lead and after playing the front nine in level par he birdied four of the last five holes to win the championship by 15 shots, a record for a Major competition. This would be Jack Nicklaus' final US Open.

2004, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club: Retief Goosen secured his second title and in doing so marked the start of a four-year run of international champions: Michael Campbell (New Zealand), Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) and Angel Cabrera (Argentina), the first time since 1925 when the trophy had stayed outside of the US for more than one year.

2008, Torrey Pines: Tiger Woods picks up his last Major to date, beating Rocco Mediate after the first play-off hole. However, his final round was plagued by a knee injury that would mark the beginning of a different era for the 14-time major winner.

2010, Pebble Beach: Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell becomes the first European to win the US Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970.

2011, Congressional Country Club: McIlroy won with a record low score of 16 under par. He won by eight shots from Jason Day, just months after falling apart at the Masters.

Nick Bonfield
Content Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, commissioning and feature writing. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x