Who has won most U.S. Open golf tournaments?

Last Modified Jun 9, 2024 10:07 GMT
Who has won most U.S. Open golf tournaments
U.S. Open golf (Source: Getty Images)

Founded in 1895 by the United States Golf Association (USGA), the U.S. Open is the third of the four annual majors in golf. The event is typically held in mid-June and has only been canceled six times during the World Wars. Since 1898, the U.S. Open has been held in a 72-hole stroke-play format.

Before 1911, when John J. McDermott became the first American to win the event, it was primarily dominated by British golfers. American players soon began to win on a regular basis, and the tournament changed to become one of the four majors.

The U.S. Open has a field of 156 golfers, with several spots already exempt. Any professional golfer can participate in the qualifiers for the U.S. Open; however, amateur golfers need a handicap of not more than 1.4.

Besides the prize money, the winners also get an exemption from the U.S. Open for the next ten years and an automatic invitation to the other three majors and the Players Championship. Moreover, they receive lifetime exemptions from the Senior PGA Championship and the British Open, as well as five-year invites to the U.S. Senior Open, after they turn 50.

Know More : US Open Qualifier

Players with the Most U.S. Open Wins

Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus have won the U.S. Open four times, tying for the most wins. Anderson is the only Scottish golfer in the latter group, with the rest being Americans.

Hale Irwin and Tiger Woods each have won the event three times, while 16 more golfers have won the U.S. Open twice, with most recent two-time champion Brooks Koepka in 2017 and 2018.

Read More : How many times has Tiger won The Open?

Multiple U.S. Open Champions

The multiple U.S. Open champions are as follows:

GolferNationalityTotalYears
Willie AndersonScotland41901, 1903, 1904, 1905
Bobby Jones USA41923, 1926, 1929, 1930
Ben HoganUSA41948, 1950, 1951, 1953
Jack NicklausUSA41962, 1967, 1972, 1980
Hale IrwinUSA31974, 1979, 1990
Tiger WoodsUSA32000, 2002, 2008
Alex SmithScotland21906, 1910
John McDermottUSA21911, 1912
Walter HagenUSA21914, 1919
Gene SarazenUSA21922, 1932
Ralph GuldahlUSA21937, 1938
Cary MiddlecoffUSA21949, 1956
Julius BorosUSA21952, 1963
Billy CasperUSA21959, 1966
Lee TrevinoUSA21968, 1971
Andy NorthUSA21978, 1985
Curtis StrangeUSA21988, 1989
Ernie ElsSouth Africa21994, 1997
Lee JanzenUSA21993, 1998
Payne StewartUSA21991, 1999
Retief GoosenSouth Africa22001, 2004
Brooks KoepkaUSA22017, 2018

Know More : US Open Winners

Most U.S. Open Wins by Nationality

The United States has the most wins with 87; Scotland comes in second with 13 wins, followed by England with eight wins.

NationalityWinsWinners
United States8761
Scotland139
England88
South Africa53
Jersey22
Australia22
Northern Ireland22
New Zealand11
Argentina11
Germany11
Spain11

Read More : How many golfers are in the U.S. Open field?

FAQ's On U.S. Open golf tournaments

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

A. The U.S. Open field has 156 golfers, with both professionals and amateurs competing.

A. The United States leads with 87 wins, followed by Scotland with 13 and England with 8.

A. Tiger Woods has won three U.S. Opens in 2000, 2002 and 2008.

A. Bobby Jones won all four golf majors in a single season in 1930. The British Amateur, British Open, US Open, and US Amateur were then four majors. 

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