Far Hills, N.J. – The United States Golf Association today announced that more than 9,000 golfers have entered to play in the 2012 U.S. Open Championship at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif. The total of 9,006 entrants is the fourth-highest in U.S. Open history, just 80 shy of the record number accepted for the 2009 championship at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y. The 53 players, including nine past champions, who are currently fully exempt into the field are among those entered for the championship.
“It is always gratifying to see how many golfers, from across the world, are interested in playing in the National Open Championship,” said USGA Executive Director Mike Davis. “The great appeal of the U.S. Open is that anyone can enter, provided they meet the Handicap Index standards set forth. We look forward to the qualifying process, conducting the 2012 championship in San Francisco and identifying this year’s United States Open champion.”
The U.S. Open will be held at The Olympic Club’s Lake Course on June 14-17. To be eligible, a player must have a USGA Handicap Index® not exceeding 1.4, or be a professional. Local qualifying, which will be played over 18 holes at 109 sites, will take place between April 30-May 17.
Sectional qualifying, played over 36 holes, will be conducted at two international sites (May 21 in Japan and May 28 in England) and on Monday, June 4 at 11 sites in the United States, ranging from New Jersey to California. The USGA established two international sectional qualifiers in 2005.
The USGA received entries for the 112th U.S. Open from golfers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 71 countries. A total of 801 applicants listed foreign addresses.Rory McIlroy, the 2011 champion, and eight other past champions are fully exempt from having to qualify for the championship. They are: Angel Cabrera (2007), Michael Campbell (2005), Jim Furyk (2003), Lucas Glover (2009), Retief Goosen (2001, 2004), Graeme McDowell (2010), Geoff Ogilvy (2006) and Tiger Woods (2000, 2002, 2008).
For the second time, only online entries were accepted in 2012. The USGA received 677 entries on the last day applications were accepted (April 25), including 124 applications in the final hour. Brad Doster, a 28-year-old professional from Winter Park, Fla., submitted his entry just 29 seconds before the deadline of 5 p.m. EDT. Jason May, a 38-year-old amateur from Sterling Heights, Mich., was the first entrant on March 5.
The number of fully exempt players will increase with the inclusion of the top 60 point leaders and ties from the Official World Golf Ranking, time sensitive to dates of May 21 and June 11, 2012. The winners of The Players Championship (May 10-13) and European Tour BMW PGA Championship (May 24-27) also receive exemptions.
In 2009, the USGA received a record 9,086 entries for the U.S. Open, while 9,052 golfers entered the 2010 championship in Pebble Beach, Calif. For the 2005 U.S. Open in Pinehurst, N.C., 9,048 entries were received.
More information about the U.S. Open before, during and after the 2012 championship at The Olympic Club can be found at www.usopen.com.
A list of the 53 golfers who are fully exempt into the 2012 U.S. Open follows (as of April 25):
| Aaron Baddeley | Lucas Glover | Justin Rose |
| Keegan Bradley | Retief Goosen | Charl Schwartzel |
| Olin Browne | Bill Haas | Adam Scott |
| Jonathan Byrd | Peter Hanson | John Senden |
| Angel Cabrera | Padraig Harrington | Webb Simpson |
| Michael Campbell | Charles Howell III | Vijay Singh |
| a-Patrick Cantlay | Trevor Immelman | Brandt Snedeker |
| Kevin Chappell | Fredrik Jacobson | Steve Stricker |
| K.J. Choi | Dustin Johnson | David Toms |
| Stewart Cink | Martin Kaymer | Bo Van Pelt |
| Tim Clark | Matt Kuchar | Nick Watney |
| Darren Clarke | Hunter Mahan | Bubba Watson |
| Jason Day | Graeme McDowell | Lee Westwood |
| Luke Donald | Rory McIlroy | Mark Wilson |
| Jason Dufner | Phil Mickelson | Gary Woodland |
| Jim Furyk | Geoff Ogilvy | Tiger Woods |
| Sergio Garcia | Louis Oosthuizen | Y.E. Yang |
| Robert Garrigus | Chez Reavie |
Bold = Past U.S. Open Champion
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About the USGA
The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, Equipment Standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s working jurisdiction comprises the United States, its territories and Mexico.
The USGA is a global leader in the development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history and funds an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” charitable giving program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.