10 things you need to know about US Open golf tournament

Chambers Bay will host the 2015 edition of the US Open

The 115th edition of the US Open gets underway in less than a week from now. The tournament has a rich legacy and has witnessed some remarkable golf over the years. It is run by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and is the second major of the year after the Masters.

Here are 10 things to know about the event.

Chambers Bay will become the second youngest golf course to host the US Open when golfers tee off on Thursday. Hazeltine course held that record when it hosted the second major in 1970. Chambers Bay also hosted the 2010 US Amateur which was won by Peter Uihlein.

1. Horace Rawlins, who won the first edition of the US Open in 1895 was rewarded with a prize money of $150. 2014 champion Martin Kramer earned $ 1.62 million for his win at Pinehurst.

3. Johnny McDermott is the first American and the youngest golfer to win the US Open at 19 years, 10 months and 14 days.

4. Frances Ouimet became the first Amateur to emerge victorious at the tournament in 1913 by beating top 3 golfers at the time. It is considered as one of the biggest upsets in the history of sport.

Curtis Strange after winning the 1989 US Open

5. Curtis Strange is the last person to successfully defend the US Open. He won here in 1988 and 1989.

6. Tiger Woods holds the largest winning margin in any major when he won the 2000 US Open by a whopping 15 shots.

7. Phil Mickelson needs to win the US Open to complete his career Grand Slam. He has finished runner-up a record six times, the most recent being in 2013 to Justin Rose.

8. Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus have won the tournament four times. Nicklaus has also finished in the top ten on 18 occasions, the most in the history of the tournamant.

9. Rory McIlroy’s score of 268 in 2011 is the lowest in tournament history.

10. The US Open is the only major to still employ an 18-hole play-off.

Edited by Staff Editor