Monday, June 23, 2025

45th U.S. Senior Open Championship Notebook

This is the 45th U.S. Senior Open Championship. The inaugural U.S. Senior Open, played in 1980 at Winged Foot Golf Club, was conducted for golfers 55 and older. The next year, the USGA lowered the minimum age to 50 to coincide with the fledgling Senior Tour (now PGA Tour Champions). 

Miller Barber captured the first of his three U.S. Senior Open titles in 1982 – he also won in 1984 and 1985. The U.S. Senior Open has six two-time champions: Gary Player (1987, 1988), Jack Nicklaus (1991, 1993), Hale Irwin (1998, 2000), Allen Doyle (2005, 2006), Kenny Perry (2013, 2017), and Bernhard Langer (2010, 2023). Doyle became the championship’s oldest winner in 2006 at the age of 57 years, 11 months, 14 days, until he was surpassed by Langer (65 years, 10 months, 6 days) in 2023. 

The youngest champion is Dale Douglass, who won in 1986 at the age of 50 years, 3 months, 24 days. 

ONE THOUSAND – The USGA will conduct its 1,016th championship with the playing of this year’s U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor. 

 

U.S. Senior Open Championships in Colorado

1993 U.S. Senior Open – Jack Nicklaus won his second U.S. Senior Open when he defeated Tom Weiskopf, an old rival and fellow Ohio State alumnus, by one stroke at Cherry Hills Country Club. Nicklaus would go on to win eight senior major titles.

2008 U.S. Senior Open – Eduardo Romero shot 6-under-par 274 to win by four strokes over Fred Funk at The Broadmoor’s East Course. He became the second Argentine winner of the championship, joining Roberto De Vicenzo (1980).
2018 U.S. Senior Open – David Toms carded an even-par 70 to finish one stroke ahead of Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jerry Kelly and Tim Petrovic at The Broadmoor’s East Course. After making a birdie on No. 16 to go ahead, Toms made a critical up-and-down on the 71st hole.

WHO’S HERE – Among the 156 golfers in the 2025 U.S. Senior Open field, there are:

U.S. Senior Open champions (9): Olin Browne (2011), Brad Bryant (2007), Fred Funk (2009), Padraig Harrington (2022), Bernhard Langer (2010, ‘23), Jeff Maggert (2015), Gene Sauers (2016), Steve Stricker (2019) and David Toms (2018)

 

U.S. Senior Open runners-up (12): Hiroyuki Fujita (2024), Fred Funk (2008, ’12, ‘13), Retief Goosen (2021), Miguel Angel Jimenez (2016, ‘18), Jerry Kelly (2018, ‘19), Bernhard Langer (2012), Tim Petrovic (2018), David Toms (2019), Gene Sauers (2014), Steve Stricker (2022, 2023), Kirk Triplett (2017) and Mike Weir (2021).

 

U.S. Open champions (5): Michael Campbell (2005), Angel Cabrera (2007), Ernie Els (1994, ’97), Retief Goosen (2001, ’04) and Lee Janzen (1993, ’98)

 

U.S. Open runners-up (4): Ernie Els (2000), Miguel Angel Jimenez (2000), Rocco Mediate (2008) and Jeff Sluman (1992)

 

U.S. Amateur champions (2): Justin Leonard (1992) and Scott Verplank (1984)

 

U.S. Junior Amateur champions (2)Brett Quigley (1987) and Willie Wood (1977)

 

U.S. Senior Amateur champions (1): a-Todd White (2023)

 

U.S. Senior Amateur runners-up (1): a-Daniel Sullivan (2024)

 

U.S. Amateur Four-Ball champions (1): a-Todd White (2015)

 

USGA champions (19): Olin Browne (2011 U.S. Senior Open), Brad Bryant (2007 U.S. Senior Open), Angel Cabrera (2007 U.S. Open), Michael Campbell (2005 U.S. Open), Ernie Els (1994, ’97 U.S. Open), Fred Funk (2009 U.S. Senior Open), Retief Goosen (2001, ’04 U.S. Open), Padraig Harrington (2022 U.S. Senior Open), Lee Janzen (1993, ’98 U.S. Open), Bernhard Langer (2010, ‘23 U.S. Senior Open), Justin Leonard (1992 U.S. Amateur), Jeff Maggert (2015 U.S. Senior Open), Brett Quigley (1987 U.S. Junior Amateur), Gene Sauers (2016 U.S. Senior Open), Steve Stricker (2019 U.S. Senior Open), David Toms (2018 U.S. Senior Open), Scott Verplank (1984 U.S. Amateur), a-Todd White (2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur), Willie Wood (1977 U.S. Junior Amateur)

 

Walker Cup Team Members:

United States (10): Billy Andrade (1987), Notah Begay III (1995), Brian Gay (1993), Jason Gore (1997), Justin Leonard (1993), Len Mattiace (1987), Scott Verplank (1985), Duffy Waldorf (1985), a-Todd White (2013) and Willie Wood (1983)

 

Great Britain & Ireland (4): Peter Baker (1985), Stephen Gallacher (1995), Padraig Harrington (1991, ’93, ’95) and Van Phillips (1993)

 

NCAA Division I champions (3): Jim Carter (1983), Justin Leonard (1994) and Scott Verplank (1986)

 

NCAA Division II champions (1): Lee Janzen (1986)

 

World Amateur Team Championship competitors (16): Steven Alker (1990, 1994, New Zealand), Stephen Ames (1986, Trinidad & Tobago), Billy Andrade (1986, USA), Thomas Bjorn (1992, Denmark), Michael Campbell (1992, New Zealand), Greg Chalmers (1994, Australia), Stephen Gallacher (1994, Great Britain and Ireland), Freddie Jacobson (1994, Sweden), Brendan Jones (1998, Australia), Shingo Katayama (1994, Japan), Soren Kjeldsen (1994, Denmark), Justin Leonard (1992, USA), Thomas Levet (1998, France), Katsumasa Miyamoto (1992, 1994, Japan), Vijay Singh (1980, Fiji) and Scott Verplank (1984, USA)

 

TOTAL U.S. SENIOR OPENS WON BY 2025 CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD (10): Olin Browne (1), Brad Bryant (1), Fred Funk (1), Padraig Harrington (1), Bernhard Langer (2), Jeff Maggert (1), Gene Sauers (1), Steve Stricker (1) and David Toms (1)

 

PLAYERS IN FIELD WITH MOST U.S. SENIOR OPEN APPEARANCES (2025 included) – Brad Bryant (17), Fred Funk (17), Bernhard Langer (17) and Jeff Sluman (17)

 

ACTIVE CONSECUTIVE U.S. SENIOR OPEN APPEARANCES(2025 included) – Bernhard Langer (17), and Jeff Sluman (17)

 

CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD – The USGA accepted 2,585 entries in 2025. Juan Angel, a 55-year-old amateur from Colombia submitted his entry 3 minutes before the deadline of 5 p.m. EDT on March 26. Mark O’Sullivan, a 50-year-old amateur from Mesa, Ariz., was the first entrant on Feb. 18. Don Klenk, a professional from Burr Ridge, Ill., was the oldest entrant at age 77.

 

The 156-player field includes 77 fully exempt golfers, nine of whom are U.S. Senior Open champions. Two-stage qualifying was held for the first time in championship history. Local qualifying, conducted over 18 holes at 32 sites in 25 U.S. states, took place from April 3-May 9. Those players who advanced joined a group of locally exempt players in final qualifying, which was also conducted over 18 holes. This final stage was held at 12 sites across the U.S., from May 19-June 12.

 

The USGA accepted entries for the 2025 championship from golfers in 49 U.S. states, including 101 from host state Colorado, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 34 foreign countries.

 

AMATEURS – There are 19 amateurs in the 156-player field. Daniel Sullivan, last year’s U.S. Senior Amateur runner-up, and Todd White, the 2024 R&A Senior Amateur winner, are among this group. 

 

Sullivan, of Pasadena, Calif., advanced to the U.S. Senior Amateur final after making his first start in the championship. Sullivan fell to Louis Brown, 4 and 3, in the 18-hole final at The Honors Course, in Ooltewah, Tenn. He reached the U.S. Mid-Amateur’s semifinal round in 2016 and 2017. Sullivan, who played intramural golf at USC while focusing on a degree in business administration, works as a real estate lender. He claimed his third SCGA (Southern California Golf Association) Public Links Championship in 2023.

 

White carded a final-round 69 to win the R&A Senior Amateur by one stroke over Brent Paterson, of New Zealand, at Saunton Golf Club, in Saunton, England. White had won his second USGA championship with a 4-and-3 victory over Jody Fanagan, of the Republic of Ireland, in the 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur final at Martis Camp, in Truckee, Calif. He is one of eight players to win both championships in a career. A high school history teacher from Spartanburg, S.C., White won the inaugural U.S. Amateur Four-Ball in 2015 with partner Nathan Smith. Both were members of the victorious 2013 USA Walker Cup Team.

 

Mark Strickland was the low amateur in the 2023 U.S. Senior Open when he tied for 42nd at SentryWorld. Strickland, of San Diego, Calif., has competed in seven different USGA championships. He will play in his fourth U.S. Senior Open and 23rd USGA championship. He earned a place in this year’s field as the first alternate from the Deal, N.J., final qualifier.

 

Christian Raynor advanced through both qualifying stages and will play in his third U.S. Senior Open. His best finish has been a tie for 60th in 2023 at SentryWorld. Raynor was the medalist in the Wallace, N.C., final qualifier on May 28, firing a 67 at River Landing Golf Club’s River Course. Raynor, of Kennesaw, Ga., has competed in eight USGA championships, including the 1994 U.S. Amateur when he reached the quarterfinals against Trip Kuehne at TPC at Sawgrass (Valley Course), in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Kuehne went on to lose in the 36-hole final to Tiger Woods.

 

Note: There were 19 amateurs in the 2024 U.S. Senior Open at Newport (R.I.) Country Club. For the third time in the last five U.S. Senior Opens contested, none made the 36-hole cut. Three-time USGA champion William C. (Bill) Campbell (1980) and two-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Tim Jackson (2009) are the only amateurs to hold the lead at a U.S. Senior Open through 36 holes. Campbell, the 1965 U.S. Amateur champion, was the runner-up in the inaugural U.S. Senior Open.   

 

Amateurs in Senior Open

Year Number Made Cut Top Finisher
2025 19 0 ^^^^^
2024 19 0 none
2023 24 2 Mark Strickland, 42nd (tie)
2022 23 0 none
2021 35 4 William Mitchell, 46th (tie)
2020 ^^ ^^ No Championship
2019 23 0 none
2018 24 3 Jeff Wilson, 31st (tie)
2017 20 1 Robby Funk, 54th (tie)
2016 23 1 Chip Lutz, 37th (tie)
2015 27 3 Michael McCoy, 26th (tie)
2014 17 2 Michael McCoy, 26th (tie)
2013 28 1 Doug Hanzel, 56th
2012 35 2 Doug Hanzel, 53rd (tie)
2011 29 1 Tim Jackson, 50th (tie)
2010 30 3 Tim Jackson, 32nd (tie)
2009 28 3 Tim Jackson, 11th (tie)
2008 29 6 Danny Green, 37th (tie)

 

QUALIFIERS – Scott McCarron, who has won 11 PGA Tour Champions events, including the 2017 Senior Players Championship, and recorded three PGA Tour victories, is among the 79 U.S. Senior Open qualifiers.

 

McCarron, of Mooresville, N.C., reached this year’s championship from the Oconomowoc, Wis., final qualifier on June 3, where he was one of 10 players to advance. He will be competing in his sixth U.S. Senior Open, with his best finish a tie for sixth in 2019 at the Warren Course at Notre Dame, in South Bend, Ind.

 

Bo Van Pelt was the medalist (66) in the same final qualifier and will compete in his first U.S. Senior Open. The Tulsa, Okla. native has won on four professional tours, including the PGA Tour, and has played in nine U.S. Opens. Duffy Waldorf and Paul Goydos also qualified in Wisconsin. Waldorf, of Rensselaer, Ind., will make his 10th U.S. Senior Open start, with his best finish a tie for ninth in 2013 at Omaha (Neb.) Country Club. He owns four PGA Tour victories and two PGA Tour Champions wins. Goydos, of Long Beach, Calif., has recorded three top-10 finishes in the Senior Open, including a tie for fifth in 2018 at The Broadmoor’s East Course. He won the 2016 Charles Schwab Cup Championship and four other PGA Tour Champions events.

 

Chris DiMarco, who resides in Denver, Colo., will compete in his fourth U.S. Senior Open after advancing from a 4-for-3 playoff in the Colorado Springs, final qualifier on June 10. His best finish is a tie for sixth in 2019 at Notre Dame’s Warren Course. DiMarco, who played in eight U.S. Opens, won three PGA Tour events and once on the DP World Tour. He also was victorious on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Canada, winning the Canadian Order of Merit in 1992.

 

J.J. Henry and Len Mattiace are first-time U.S. Senior Open competitors. Henry, of Fort Worth, Texas, qualified in Pearland, Texas on May 19. He has produced three PGA Tour victories and played in eight U.S. Opens. Mattiace, 57, of Atlantic Beach, Fla., advanced from the Deal, N.J., final qualifier. He was the runner-up in the 2003 Masters Tournament, losing to Mike Weir in a playoff. He won twice on the PGA Tour. 

 

Willie Wood, 64, of Edmond, Okla., is one of 38 two-stage qualifiers in the field. He advanced from a 3-for-2 playoff in the Mesa, Ariz., final qualifier on June 2. Wood, who has won on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions, will compete in his seventh U.S. Senior Open. His best finish is a tie for 29th in 2011 at Inverness Club, in Toledo, Ohio. Wood won the 1977 U.S. Junior Amateur title, one of the 21 USGA championships he has played.

 

Note: In 2002, Don Pooley became the only player to win the U.S. Senior Open as a qualifier.

 

List of Local-Final Qualifiers (38): a-Thomas Ansbro, a-Tomas Arlia, John Balfanz, John Bushka, Burke Cromer, Rod Curl Jr., a-Chris Devlin, Boomer Erick, Darin Fisher, a-Ryan Gioffre, a-Tom Greller, a-Kelly Grunewald, Ryan Helminen, Armando Manuel Inman, a-Joe Jaspers, a-Marcus Jones, Ed Kirby, Mark Knowles, Cliff Kresge, Richard Lee, Len Mattiace, Eric Meichtry, a-Darin Overson, Perry Parker, Ron Philo, Ted Purdy, a-Christian Raynor, Taggart Ridings, Eric Rolland, Jeff Roth, Roger Rowland, Andrew Sapp, a-Peter Samborsky II, Matt Schalk, Kevin Shields, Rob Shields, a-Channing Tam, Willie Wood.

 

Qualifiers in Senior Open

Year Number Made Cut Top Finisher
2025 79 ^^ ^^^^^
2024 77 22 Cameron Percy, 12th (tie)
2023 85 18 Craig Barlow, 14th (tie)
2022 81 21 Mark Hensby, 3rd
2021 82 19 Greg Kraft, 28th (tie)
2020 ^^ ^^ No Championship
2019 81 10 Doug Garwood, Fran Quinn, 14th (tie)
2018 90 18 Tim Petrovic, 2nd (tie)
2017 80 14 Glen Day, 6th
2016 80 15 Glen Day, Jeff Gallagher, 18th (tie)
2015 85 24 Gramt Waite, 3rd (tie)
2014 86 20 Marco Dawson, 5th (tie)
2013 85 15 Bart Bryant, 9th (tie)
2012 85 16 Lance Ten Broeck, 9th (tie)
2011 86 15 Steve Pate, 9th (tie)
2010 92 25 J.L. Lewis, John Morse, 12th (tie)
2009 83 16 Russ Cochran, 3rd
2008 85 17 Jeff Klein, 9th (tie)

                 

QUALIFYING HISTORY            

For the first time since its inception in 1980, the U.S. Senior Open featured a qualifying framework that is comparable to the U.S. Open with local and final qualifying sites. Local qualifying, conducted over 18 holes at 32 sites in 25 U.S. states, took place from April 3-May 9. Those players who advanced joined a group of locally exempt players in final qualifying, which was also conducted over 18 holes. This final stage was held at 12 sites across the U.S., from May 19-June 12. There are 38 players in this year’s field who reached the championship as a two-stage qualifier

 

2025 U.S. Senior Open -- First Stage Low Scores

64, Mike Vance, 2025 (Franklin Bridge G.C., Franklin, Tenn.) 

64, a-Brian Quackenbush, 2025 (Florence S.C.; Florence C.C.)

 

2025 U.S. Senior Open - Final Stage Low Score

66, Bo Van Pelt, 2025 (Oconomowoc C.C., Oconomowoc, Wis.)

 

SCORING IN QUALIFYING       

Mathew Goggin qualified for his second consecutive U.S. Senior Open on May 19. Last year, he tied the lowest score in the qualifying history with a 7-under-par 63. Goggin, an Australian who competed in four U.S. Opens, had nine birdies at Florence (S.C.) Country Club in matching a score held by three other players. In 2018, Kent Jones carded a bogey-free 63 in the Santa Fe, N.M., qualifier. He had one eagle and seven birdies at Las Campanas (Sunset Course). Leonard Thompson fired a 63 at Florence (S.C.) Country Club in 2006 and Jimmy Blanks shot the same score at Grenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort, in Haines City, Fla., in 1996.

 

U.S. Senior Open Qualifying Low Scores (Since 1980)

63, Mathew Goggin, 2024 (Florence S.C.; Florence C.C.)

63, Kent Jones, 2018 (The Club at Las Campanas; Santa Fe, N.M.)

63, Leonard Thompson, 2006 (Florence, S.C.; Florence C.C.)

63, Jimmy Blanks, 1996 (Haines City, Fla.; Grenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort)

64, Eric Axley, 2024 (Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Oak Ridge C.C.)

64, Clark Dennis, 2017 (Dallas, Texas; Las Colinas Country Club)

64, Brad Lardon, 2016 (The Woodlands, Texas; The Club at Carlton Woods/Nicklaus Course)

64, Bill Harvey, 2014 (Albuquerque, N.M.; Albuquerque C.C.)

64, a-Bert Atkinson, 2009 (Florence, S.C.; Florence C.C.)

64, Steve Haskins, 2009 (Albuquerque, N.M.; Albuquerque C.C.)

64, Wesley Burton, 2007 (Boynton Beach, Fla.; Quail Ridge C.C./North Course)

64, Rod Souza, 2004 (Copperopolis, Calif.; Saddle Creek C.C.)

64, Robert Gaona, 2002 (Goodyear, Ariz.; Tuscany Falls C.C.)

64, Dick McClean, 2001 (Redlands, Calif.; Redlands C.C.)

64, Steve Moreland, 2000 (Charlotte, N.C.; Cedarwood C.C.)

64, Mike Vance, 2025 (Franklin Bridge G.C., Franklin, Tenn.) – Local Qualifier

64, a-Brian Quackenbush, 2025 (Florence S.C.; Florence C.C.) – Local Qualifier

 

2025 U.S. SENIOR OPEN NOTES

The Broadmoor is hosting its ninth USGA championship, which dates to the 1959 U.S. Amateur

The East Course will host its third U.S. Senior Open, which ties a record for most times as a playing site with Saucon Valley Country Club

World Golf Hall of Famers Jack Nicklaus, Juli Inkster and Annika Sorenstam have won USGA titles here

The Broadmoor will host the 1,016th USGA championship with this year’s U.S. Senior Open

The 45th U.S. Senior Open is the 36th USGA championship to be conducted in the state of Colorado

The Broadmoor is one of seven clubs to have hosted a U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open

 

USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE BROADMOOR         

This will be the third U.S. Senior Open Championship and the ninth USGA championship to be conducted at The Broadmoor.

The Broadmoor’s East Course was the site of the 2018 U.S. Senior Open when David Toms carded an even-par 70 to finish one stroke ahead of Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jerry Kelly and Tim Petrovic. After making a birdie on No. 16 to go ahead, Toms channeled some positive thoughts from his previous major championship victory, the 2001 PGA Championship, to make a critical up-and-down par on the 71st hole. When he knocked his drive on the difficult par-4 17th into a fairway bunker, leaving himself no chance to reach the green in two because the ball sat near the bunker’s face, Toms recalled the up-and-down par he made on the 72nd hole in the PGA at Atlanta Athletic Club to edge Phil Mickelson by one stroke. He laid up his second shot to 93 yards from the green and then after an indifferent approach, he sank a 19-footer from above the hole for a 4. Toms finished with a 72-hole score of 3-under 277.

In 2008, Eduardo Romero became the second Argentinean to win the U.S. Senior Open, joining 1980 champion Roberto De Vicenzo. Romero finished at 6-under-par 274, including a third-round 65, to post a four-stroke victory over Fred Funk.

 

In 1959, Jack Nicklaus defeated Charles Coe, 1 up, to win the first of his two U.S. Amateur Championships. The 19-year-old Nicklaus made an 8-foot birdie putt on the 36th hole to clinch the final match, a stroke he says gave him the confidence to become the game’s greatest major champion. Nicklaus would go on to win eight USGA championships, including the 1991 and 1993 Senior Opens.

 

The U.S. Women’s Open Championship has been conducted twice on the East Course. In 1995, Annika Sorenstam shot a final-round 68 to edge Meg Mallon by one stroke (278-279) to win the first of her three U.S. Women’s Open titles. Sorenstam, who won on the 50th anniversary of the championship, became the 13th player to make the U.S. Women’s Open her first American professional victory. 

 

In 2011, So Yeon Ryu, of the Republic of Korea, defeated countrywoman Hee Kyung Seo in a three-hole aggregate playoff, the first time the championship used this format to decide the winner. The two players were tied at 3-under-par 281 after 72 holes. Ryu birdied the last two holes of the playoff to win by three strokes.

 

The Broadmoor’s East Course also hosted the 1962 Curtis Cup Match, when the USA defeated Great Britain and Ireland, 8-1. The USA Team included JoAnne Gunderson Carner, an eight-time USGA champion, seven-time USGA champion Anne Quast Sander, two-time U.S. Women’s Amateur winner Barbara McIntire and Judy Bell, a future USGA president. 

 

In 1967, The Broadmoor’s West Course hosted the U.S. Amateur and Robert B. Dickson edged Vinny Giles by one shot when the championship was conducted in a 72-hole, stroke-play format. In 1982, the resort’s South Course (later became the Mountain Course) hosted the U.S. Women’s Amateur, as Juli Inkster defeated Cathy Hanlon, 4 and 3, for her third consecutive title.

 

2025 U.S. Senior Open Players Who Competed in 2018 U.S. Senior Open (31): Stephen Ames (T-31), Billy Andrade (T-16), Woody Austin (MC), Paul Broadhurst (T-5), Olin Browne (MC), Brad Bryant (MC), David Carr (MC), Glen Day (MC), Clark Dennis (MC), Scott Dunlap (T-44), Joe Durant (T-44), Bob Estes (T-31), Steve Flesch (MC), Fred Funk (MC), Lee Janzen (T-10), Miguel Angel Jimenez (T-2), Brandt Jobe (T-5), Jerry Kelly (T-2), Bernhard Langer (T-16), Jeff Maggert (T-49), Rocco Mediate (T-14), Tom Pernice Jr. (T-12), Tim Petrovic (T-2), Gene Sauers (T-21), Vijay Singh (T-16), Jeff Sluman (MC), Kevin Sutherland (T-8), Ken Tanigawa (T-40), David Toms (Won), Kirk Triplett (T-8), Scott Verplank, (T-16).

 

2025 U.S. Senior Open Players Who Competed in 2008 U.S. Senior Open (4): Brad Bryant (T-14), Fred Funk (2nd), Bernhard Langer (T-6), Jeff Sluman (T-18)

 

USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE BROADMOOR         

1959 U.S. Amateur (East Course): Jack Nicklaus def. Charles Coe, 1 up

1962 Curtis Cup Match (East Course): USA def. Great Britain and Ireland, 8-1

1967 U.S. Amateur (West Course): Robert B. Dickson by one stroke over Marvin “Vinny” Giles III (285-286)

1982 U.S. Women’s Amateur (South Course): Juli Simpson Inkster def. Cathy Hanlon, 4 and 3

1995 U.S. Women’s Open (East Course): Annika Sorenstam by one stroke over Meg Mallon (278-279)

2008 U.S. Senior Open (East Course): Eduardo Romero by four strokes over Fred Funk (274-278)

2011 U.S. Women’s Open (East Course): So Yeon Ryu def. HeeKyung Seo (281-3-4-3 – 281-3-6-4)

2018 U.S. Senior Open (East Course): David Toms won by one stroke over Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jerry Kelly and Tim Petrovic (277-278)

 

OTHER CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE BROADMOOR

1953 NCAA Championship: Earl Moeller, Oklahoma A&M (Individual), Stanford (Team)

1957 NCAA Championship: Rex Baxter, Houston (Individual), Stanford (Team)

1960 NCAA Championship: Dick Crawford, Houston (Individual), Houston (Team)

1964 NCAA Championship: Terry Small, San Jose State (Individual), Houston (Team)

1969 NCAA Championship: Bob Clark, Cal State-Los Angeles (Individual), Houston (Team)

1935 Western Amateur: Charlie Yates d. Rodney Bliss, 5 and 3

1941 Western Amateur: Bud Ward d. Harry Todd, 3 and 2

1927 Trans-Mississippi Amateur: Johnny Goodman

1930 Trans-Mississippi Amateur: Robert McCray

1933 Trans-Mississippi Amateur: Gus Moreland

1939 Trans-Mississippi Amateur: Chic Harbert

1949 Trans-Mississippi Amateur: Charles Coe

 

USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS IN COLORADO

This will be the 36th USGA championship played in Colorado and the fourth U.S. Senior Open contested in the state.

 

Recent USGA/Colorado Championships (champion in parenthesis)

2005 U.S. Women’s Open, Cherry Hills C.C., Cherry Hills Village (Birdie Kim)

2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, Walking Stick G.C., Pueblo (Tiffany Joh)

2008 U.S. Amateur Public Links, Murphy Creek G.C., Aurora (Jack Newman)

2008 U.S. Senior Open, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs (Eduardo Romero)

2011 U.S. Women’s Open, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs (So Yeon Ryu)

2012 U.S. Amateur, Cherry Hills C.C., Cherry Hills Village (Steven Fox)

2018 U.S. Senior Open, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs (David Toms)

2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur, Colorado Golf Club, Parker (Lukas Michel)

2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior, U.S. Air Force Academy G.C., Colorado Springs (Kiara Romero)

2023 U.S. Amateur, Cherry Hills C.C., Cherry Hills Village (Nick Dunlap)

 

HOLE BY HOLE – The Broadmoor’s East Course will be set up at 7,247 yards and will play to a par of 36-34–70. The yardage for each round of the championship will vary due to course setup and conditions.

The Broadmoor Golf Club (East Course) Hole By Hole    
Hole123456789Total
Par44534443536
Yardage4293396011654334024261785353,508
           
Hole101112131415161718Total
Par44344434434
Yardage5014782234934274591805454333,739

 

COURSE RATING AND SLOPE – Based on the course setup for the championship, the Course Rating™ is 74.6. The Slope Rating® is 144.

 

THE COURSE – The Broadmoor’s East Course was designed by Donald Ross and opened for play in 1918. The course sits on the southern edge of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of more than 6,400 feet. The East Course is now a combination of holes from Ross’ original layout and holes that were designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1952. The Broadmoor features one other layout, the West Course, and the resort’s landmark hotel, a 784-room facility located on the edge of Cheyenne Lake.

 

LONGEST U.S. SENIOR OPEN COURSES

7,269 yards, Crooked Stick G.C., second round, Carmel, Ind., 2009
7,249 yards, The Broadmoor (East Course), first round, Colorado Springs, Colo., 2018

7,248 yards, The Broadmoor (East Course), fourth round, Colorado Springs, Colo., 2008

7,241 yards, Crooked Stick G.C., first round, Carmel, Ind., 2009

7,223 yards, Crooked Stick G.C., fourth round, Carmel, Ind., 2009

7,217 yards, The Broadmoor (East Course), first round, Colorado Springs, Colo., 2008

7,208 yards, Crooked Stick G.C., third round, Carmel, Ind., 2009

7,192 yards, The Broadmoor (East Course), third round, Colorado Springs, Colo., 2008

7,185 yards, The Broadmoor (East Course), fourth round, Colorado Springs, Colo., 2018

7,164 yards, Inverness Club, fourth round, Toledo, Ohio, 2011

7,156 yards, The Broadmoor (East Course), third round, Colorado Springs, Colo., 2018

 

LONG HOLES – The Warren Course at Notre Dame featured the longest par 3 in 2019, the 250-yard fifth hole in the fourth round. The Broadmoor’s 12th hole on the East Course is the second-longest and measured 244 yards in the first round of the 2008 championship. The Broadmoor’s 17th hole measured at 559 yards in the first round of the 2018 U.S. Senior Open, the championship’s longest par 4.

 

LONGEST PAR 3s IN U.S. SENIOR OPEN HISTORY

250 yards, 5th, fourth round, Warren Course at Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind., 2019
244 yards, 12th, first round, The Broadmoor (East Course), Colorado Springs, Colo., 2008

244 yards, 13th, third round, Newport (R.I.) C.C., 2024

241 yards, 13th, fourth round, Newport (R.I.) C.C., 2024

240 yards, 5th, first round, Warren Course at Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind., 2019

240 yards, 3rd, second round, Omaha (Neb.) C.C., 2021

239 yards, 12th, third round, The Broadmoor (East Course), Colorado Springs, Colo., 2008

238 yards, 12th, first round, The Broadmoor (East Course), Colorado Springs, Colo., 2018

 

LONGEST PAR 4s IN U.S. SENIOR OPEN HISTORY

559 yards, 17th, first round, The Broadmoor (East Course), Colorado Springs, Colo., 2018

545 yards, 17th, second round, The Broadmoor (East Course), Colorado Springs, Colo., 2008

545 yards, 17th, third round, The Broadmoor (East Course), Colorado Springs, Colo., 2008

538 yards, 17th, second round, The Broadmoor (East Course), Colorado Springs, Colo., 2018

532 yards, 17th, fourth round, The Broadmoor (East Course), Colorado Springs, Colo., 2018

517 yards, 17th, third round, The Broadmoor (East Course), Colorado Springs, Colo., 2018

510 yards, 17th, first round, The Broadmoor (East Course), Colorado Springs, Colo., 2008

503 yards, 10th, first round, The Broadmoor (East Course), Colorado Springs, Colo., 2018

 

LONGEST PAR 5s IN U.S. SENIOR OPEN HISTORY

627 yards, 15th, third round, Del Paso C.C., Sacramento, Calif., 2015

623 yards, 12th, second round, Saucon Valley C.C. (Old Course), Bethlehem, Pa. 2022

619 yards, 12th, fourth round, Saucon Valley C.C. (Old Course), Bethlehem, Pa. 2022

608 yards, 7th, Brooklawn Country Club, Fairfield, Conn., 1987

608 yards, 6th, Canterbury Golf Club, Beachwood, Ohio, 1996

608 yards, 3rd, first round, The Broadmoor (East Course), Colorado Springs, Colo., 2018

608 yards, 3rd, fourth round, The Broadmoor (East Course), Colorado Springs, Colo., 2018

608 yards, 12th, third round, Saucon Valley C.C. (Old Course), Bethlehem, Pa. 2022

 

THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED IN THE SENIOR OPEN

Richard Bland – the last international winner (2024)

Allen Doyle – the last to defend title successfully (2006)

Padraig Harrington – the last to win on his first attempt (2022)

David Toms – the last to win on his second attempt (2018)

Olin Browne – the last start-to-finish winner with no ties (2011)

Hale Irwin – the last winner to birdie the 72nd hole to win by one stroke (1998)

Gary Player – the last winner without a round in the 60s (1988)

Richard Bland – the last winner with all rounds in the 60s (2024)

Gene Sauers – the last defending champion to miss the cut (2017)

Don Pooley – the last winner to come through final qualifying (2002)

            

FUTURE SITES IN THIS DECADE         

July 2-5, 2026: Scioto Country Club, Columbus, Ohio

July 1-4, 2027: Oak Tree National, Edmond, Okla.

June 29-July 2, 2028: Crooked Stick Golf Club, Carmel, Ind.

2029: Prairie Dunes Country Club, Hutchinson, Kan.

 

PAST SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONS – Since the U.S. Senior Open began in 1980, three players have successfully defended their title: Miller Barber (1984-’85), Gary Player (1987-’88) and Allen Doyle (2005-’06). In 2018, David Toms became the second player to win the championship after missing the cut the previous year. Richard Bland is not defending his title in 2025 due to a scheduling conflict.

 

In Defense of the Senior Open

Year Champion Previous Year Result in Defense
2024 Richard Bland did not play did not play
2023 Bernhard Langer missed cut tie, 42nd
2022 Padraig Harrington did not play tie, 18th
2021 Jim Furyk did not play tie, 25th
2020 No Championship    
2019 Steve Stricker did not play did not play (2021)
2018 David Toms missed cut tie, 2nd
2017 Kenny Perry withdrew tie, 40th
2016 Gene Sauers tie, 47th missed cut
2015 Jeff Maggert tie, 55th tie, 30th
2014 Colin Montgomerie tie, 30th 2nd
2013 Kenny Perry missed cut tie, 14th
2012 Roger Chapman did not play missed cut
2011 Olin Browne tie, 3rd tie, 36th
2010 Bernhard Langer 4th tie, 12th
2009 Fred Funk 2nd tie, 43rd
2008 Eduardo Romero tie, 22nd tie, 19th

 

WHAT THE CHAMPION RECEIVES

Among the benefits the 2025 U.S. Senior Open champion receives are:

►A gold medal and custody of the Francis D. Ouimet Memorial Trophy for the ensuing year

►An exemption from qualifying for the 2026 U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club

►An exemption from qualifying for the next 10 U.S. Senior Open Championships

 

SENIOR MAJOR CHAMPIONS – Miguel Angel Jimenez, of Spain, won his third senior major professional title following his playoff victory in the Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone Country Club, in Akron, Ohio, on June 22. Bernhard Langer has won 12 senior majors, including the 2023 U.S. Senior Open at SentryWorld. Langer became the all-time leader in that category with his 2017 Senior PGA Championship victory.

 

Winners of Recent Senior Major Championships

Year Winner (Championship) Result
2025 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Kaulig Champ.) (-10, 270, def. Alker in playoff)
2025 Angel Cabrera (Senior PGA) (-8, 280)
2025 Angel Cabrera (Tradition) (-20, 268)
2024 K.J. Choi (Sr. Open Champ.) (-10, 278)
2024 Ernie Els (Kaulig Champ.) (-10, 270)
2024 Richard Bland (U.S. Senior Open) (-13, 267, def. Fujita in playoff)
2024 Richard Bland (Senior PGA) (-17, 267)
2024 Doug Barron (Tradition) (-17, 271)
2023 Alex Cejka (Sr. Open Champ.) (+5, 289, def. Harrington in playoff)
2023 Steve Stricker (Senior Players) (-11, 269)
2023 Bernhard Langer (U.S. Senior Open) (-7, 277)
2023 Steve Stricker (Senior PGA) (-18, 270, def. Harrington in playoff)
2023 Steve Stricker (Tradition) (-23, 265)
2022 Darren Clarke (Sr. Open Champ.) (-10, 270)
2022 Jerry Kelly (Senior Players) (-11, 269)
2022 Padraig Harrington (U.S. Senior Open) (-10, 274)
2022 Steven Alker (Senior PGA) (-16, 268)
2022 Steve Stricker (Tradition) (-21, 267)
2021 Stephen Dodd (Sr. Open Champ.) (-13, 267)
2021 Jim Furyk (U.S. Senior Open) (-7, 273)
2021 Steve Stricker (Senior Players) (-7, 273)
2021 Alex Cejka (Senior PGA) (-8, 272)
2021 Alex Cejka (Tradition) (-18, 270)
2020 Jerry Kelly (Senior Players) (-3, 277)
2019 Bernhard Langer (Sr. Open Champ.) (-6, 274)
2019 Retief Goosen (Senior Players) (-6, 274)
2019 Steve Stricker (U.S. Senior Open) (-19, 261)
2019 Ken Tanigawa (Senior PGA) (-3, 277)
2019 Steve Stricker (Tradition) (-18, 270)
2018 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Sr. Open Champ.) (-12, 276)
2018 Vijah Singh (Senior Players) (-20, 268)
2018 David Toms (U.S. Senior Open) (-3, 277)
2018 Paul Broadhurst (Senior PGA) (-19, 265)
2018 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Tradition) (-19, 269)
2017 Bernhard Langer (Sr. Open Champ.) (-4, 280)
2017 Scott McCarron (Senior Players) (-18, 270)
2017 Kenny Perry (U.S. Senior Open) (-16, 264)
2017 Bernhard Langer (Senior PGA) (-18, 270)
2017 Bernhard Langer (Tradition) (-20, 268)
2016 Gene Sauers (U.S. Senior Open) (-3, 277)
2016 Paul Broadhurst (Sr. Open Champ.) (-11, 277)
2016 Bernhard Langer (Senior Players) (+1, 281)
2016 Rocco Mediate (Senior PGA) (-19, 265)
2016 Bernhard Langer (Tradition) (-17, 271)
2015 Marco Dawson (Sr. Open Champ.) (-16, 264)
2015 Jeff Maggert (U.S. Senior Open) (-10, 270)
2015 Bernhard Langer (Senior Players) (-19, 265)
2015 Colin Montgomerie (Senior PGA) (-8, 280)
2015 Jeff Maggert (Tradition) (-14, 274, def. K. Sutherland in playoff)

 

CAREER SENIOR MAJOR LEADERS – Bernhard Langer, who has won all five senior major professional titles, is the career leader in that category with 12. Jack Nicklaus, a two-time U.S. Senior Open champion, is second with eight senior major professional titles. Hale Irwin, who won the U.S. Senior Open in 1998 and 2000, and Steve Stricker, the 2019 U.S. Senior Open champion, are tied for third with seven senior majors.

 

Career Senior Major Leaders   

Number, Winners, Years of Championships

12, Bernhard Langer (2010, ’23 U.S. Senior Open; 2014, ’15, ‘16 Senior Players; 2010, ’14, ’17, ‘19 Sr. Open Champ.; 2016, ‘17 Tradition; 2017 Senior PGA)

8, Jack Nicklaus (1991, ’93 U.S. Senior Open; 1990, ’91, ’95, ’96 Tradition; 1990 Senior Players, 1991 Senior PGA)

7, Hale Irwin (1998, 2000 U.S. Senior Open; 1996, ’97, ’98, 2004 Senior PGA; 1999 Senior Players)

7, Steve Stricker (2019 U.S. Senior Open; 2019, ’22, ’23 Tradition; 2021, ‘23 Senior Players, 2023 Senior PGA)

6, Gary Player (1987, ’88 U.S. Senior Open; 1986 ‘88, ’90 Senior PGA; 1987 Senior Players)

6, Tom Watson (2003, ’05, ’07 Sr. Open Champ.; 2001, ’11 Senior PGA; 2003 Tradition)

5, Miller Barber (1982, ’84, ’85 U.S. Senior Open; 1981 Senior PGA; 1983 Senior Players)

5, Arnold Palmer (1981 U.S. Senior Open; 1980, ’84 Senior PGA; 1984, ’85 Senior Players)

4, Allen Doyle (2005, ’06 U.S. Senior Open; 1999 Senior PGA; 2001 Senior Players)

4, Raymond Floyd (1996, 2000 Senior Players; 1994 Tradition; 1995 Senior PGA)

4, Kenny Perry (2013, ‘17 U.S. Senior Open; 2013 Senior Players; 2014 Tradition)

4, Loren Roberts (2006, ’09 Sr. Open Champ.; 2005 Tradition; 2007 Senior Players)

4, Lee Trevino (1990 U.S. Senior Open; 1992, ’94 Senior PGA; 1992 Tradition)

3, Alex Cejka (2021 Tradition; 2021 Senior PGA, 2023 Sr. Open Champ.)

3, Fred Funk (2009 U.S. Senior Open; 2008, ’10 Tradition)

3, Jay Haas (2006, ’08 Senior PGA; 2009 Senior Players)

3, Miguel Angel Jimenez (2018 Tradition, 2018 Sr. Open Champ., 2025 Kaulig Champ.)

3, Tom Lehman (2011, ’12 Tradition; 2010 Senior PGA)

3, Colin Montgomerie (2014 Senior PGA; 2014 U.S. Senior Open; 2015 Senior PGA)

3, Gil Morgan (1997, ’98 Tradition; 1998 Senior Players)

3, Dave Stockton (1996 U.S. Senior Open; 1992, ’94 Senior Players)

 

Bold – 2025 U.S. Senior Open competitor

 

TELEVISION SCHEDULE                                  

The 45th U.S. Senior Open will receive at least 18 hours of broadcast coverage. Rolex is the exclusive presenting partner of coverage for several USGA Championships in 2025, including the U.S. Senior Open. Rolex’s commitment will allow an uninterrupted broadcast of these championships, providing fans with hours of continuous live action.

 

Led by producer Chris Maguire and director Jeff Jastrow, NBCUniversal’s production will utilize a roster of broadcasters that includes veterans Dan Hicks (anchor) and Brad Faxon (analyst). Peter Jacobsen, who won the 2004 U.S. Senior Open at Bellerive Country Club, in St. Louis, Mo., will also provide analysis. Roger Maltbie, Mark Rolfing and Jimmy Roberts are also part of the broadcast team. Jacobsen, who won the Senior Open in his first attempt, has played in 17 U.S. Opens and 13 Senior Opens. Faxon, a 1983 USA Walker Cup competitor, and Maltbie competed in 20 and eight U.S. Opens, respectively.

Date/Day Time (Local/MDT) Network Coverage
Thursday, June 26 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Peacock First Round
  4-7 p.m. Golf Channel First Round
Friday, June 27 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Peacock Second Round
  4-7 p.m. Golf Channel Second Round
Saturday, June 28 Noon-4 p.m. NBC Third Round
Sunday, June 29 Noon-4 p.m. NBC Fourth Round

 

NBC Talent Roster

►Play by Play: Terry Gannon
►Analyst: Brad Faxon / Peter Jacobsen
►On-Course: Roger Maltbie / Mark Rolfing
►Reporter: 
Jimmy Roberts

 

WINNERS OF U.S. OPEN & U.S. SENIOR OPEN          

Winners, Years of Championships

Billy Casper (1959, 1966 U.S. Open; 1983 U.S. Senior Open)

Jim Furyk (2003 U.S. Open; 2021 U.S. Senior Open)

Hale Irwin (1974, 1979, 1990 U.S. Open; 1998, 2000 U.S. Senior Open)

Orville Moody (1969 U.S. Open; 1989 U.S. Senior Open)

Jack Nicklaus (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980 U.S. Open; 1991, 1993 U.S. Senior Open)

Arnold Palmer (1960 U.S. Open; 1981 U.S. Senior Open)

Gary Player (1965 U.S. Open; 1987, 1988 U.S. Senior Open)

Lee Trevino (1968, 1971 U.S. Open: 1990 U.S. Senior Open)

 

CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY

The U.S. Senior Open, first contested in 1980, is in just its fifth decade as a USGA championship. Yet the Francis D. Ouimet Memorial Trophy is actually the oldest among the USGA’s championship trophies. 

 

On Sept. 24, 1894, the Tuxedo Club, of Tuxedo Park, N.Y., invited three other clubs to compete in the first American interclub tournament. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Saint Andrew’s Golf Club, and The Country Club of Brookline, Mass., agreed to the challenge. All four are founding clubs of the USGA. While there is still some dispute as to which team won, the team from The Country Club, consisting of H.C. Leeds, Laurence Curtis, Robert Bacon and W.B. Thomas, returned home with the trophy. The sterling silver, hourglass-shaped cup remained in the club’s possession until the mid-1950s, when it was given to the USGA for exhibition. 

 

In June 1980, with the USGA preparing for the inaugural U.S. Senior Open, The Country Club suggested that the trophy be used as the formal award for the championship. The cup was presented “by The Country Club and Golfers of Massachusetts,” and formally dedicated as the Francis D. Ouimet Memorial Trophy. Roberto De Vicenzo received it at Winged Foot Golf Club as the inaugural champion. A replica of the trophy, complete with engraving of the 1894 Brookline team, was produced by the USGA in 1997 and awarded to Graham Marsh at Olympia Fields Country Club in Illinois. The original was then given its second and final retirement and is on display at the USGA Golf Museum in Liberty Corner, N.J.

 

TWO-TEE START – Play will begin at 7 a.m. MDT on Thursday (June 26) on the first and 10th tees at The Broadmoor’s East Course. A two-tee start was adopted for the 2001 U.S. Senior Open. The USGA had adopted a two-tee start for the U.S. Women’s Open in 2000 and used the format for the first time in the U.S. Open in 2002.

 

SENIOR OPEN PRIZE MONEY – Richard Bland earned $800,000 from a purse of $4 million when he captured the 2024 U.S. Senior Open at Newport (R.I.) Country Club. Hale Irwin received $400,000 from a purse of $2.25 million when the championship was played in 2000 at Saucon Valley Country Club. In 1980, Roberto De Vicenzo won the first U.S. Senior Open and earned $20,000.

 

SENIOR OPEN BIRTHDAYS – Three players in the U.S. Senior Open field will be celebrating a birthday around the championship. Mark Hensby, who tied for third in 2022 at Saucon Valley Country Club, turns 54 on June 29, the final round of the championship.

 

2025 U.S. Senior Open Competitors

Name Birthdate Age (on birthday)
Boomer Erick 6/20/1975 50
Mark Knowles 6/24/1968 57
Mark Hensby 6/29/1971 54

 

OLDEST & YOUNGEST – Brad Bryant is the oldest player in the field at age 70. Bryant won the 2007 U.S. Senior Open by three strokes over Ben Crenshaw at Whistling Straits, in Kohler, Wis. He has won on both the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. Christopher “Boomer” Erick, the director of golf at Boston Golf Club, Hingham, Mass., is the youngest, turning 50 on June 20.

 

FIELD FOR THE AGES – Eight players in the 2025 U.S. Senior Open field have celebrated their 50th birthday since January. Soren Kjeldsen turned 50 on May 17. The Danish professional has claimed four DP World Tour victories and played in five U.S. Opens, with his best finish a tie for 33rd in 2010 at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links.

 

There are 34 players in the field who are 60 or older. Fred Funk (2009), Olin Browne (2011), Jeff Maggert (2015), Gene Sauers (2016) and Bernhard Langer (2010, 2023) are U.S. Senior Open champions. 

 

The average age of the 156-player field is 55.88.

 

INTERNATIONAL GROUP – There are 22 countries represented in the 2025 U.S. Senior Open. The USA has 103 players in the field, while Australia has 10 and England has seven.

 

Countries with players in the field: United States (103), Australia (10), England (7), South Africa (4), Canada (3), Germany (3), Japan (3), New Zealand (3), Scotland (3), Sweden (3), Argentina (2), Denmark (2), Republic of Korea (2), Brazil (1), Fiji (1), France (1), India (1), Republic of Ireland (1), Mexico (1), Northern Ireland (1), Spain (1) and Thailand (1).

 

FIRST TIME IN U.S. SENIOR OPEN – There are 43 players in the 2025 championship field who are making their U.S. Senior Open debut. Stewart Cink, who won the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry in a playoff with Tom Watson, has top-3 finishes in all four major championships. Cink, who has competed in 23 U.S. Opens, has won eight times on the PGA Tour and twice on PGA Tour Champions. He defeated Retief Goosen in a playoff at this year’s Insperity Invitational. Angel Cabrera, of Argentina, captured consecutive senior major titles in May when he won the Regions Tradition and Senior PGA Championship. Cabrera, who has victories on nine different tours, won the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club and the 2009 Masters Tournament.

 

List of First-Time U.S. Senior Open Competitors (43): Steve Allan, a-Thomas Ansbro, a-Thomas Arlia, Arjun Atwal, John Bushka, Angel Cabrera, Stewart Cink, Robert Coles, Burke Cromer, Rod Curl Jr., a-Chris Devlin, Boomer Erick, Darin Fisher, Stephen Gallacher, a-Ryan Gioffre, Thomas Gogele, Jason Gore, a-Tom Greller, Simon Griffiths, Scott Hend, J.J. Henry, Scott Hunter, Armando Manuel Inman, Freddie Jacobson, a-Joe Jaspers, Brendan Jones, a-Marcus Jones, a-Bradley Kay, Soren Kjeldsen, Mark Knowles, Andrew Marshall, Len Mattiace, a-Terrence Miskell, Tim O’Neal, a-Darin Overson, Greg Owen, Perry Parker, Van Phillips, Ted Purdy, a-Peter Samborsky II, Kevin Shields, Rob Shields, a-Daniel Sullivan

 

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE I – Matt Schalk, 54, of Erie, Colo., has been PGA General Manager at Colorado National Golf Club, a public golf facility, since 2017. Schalk, who advanced through both stages of qualifying, was the medalist (68) in the Colorado Springs, Colo., final qualifier on June 10. Schalk, who played in first U.S. Senior Open last year, won the 2023 Senior PGA Professional Championship. He was chosen 2023 Colorado Golf Hall of Fame Person of the Year. His daughter, Hailey, played at the University of Colorado and qualified for the 2021 U.S. Women’s Amateur.

 

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE II – Brandt Jobe is a member of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame after winning the 1985 State Amateur and 1992 State Open. As a high school student at Kent Denver, he also won the CGA Junior Stroke Play. Jobe has played in four U.S. Senior Opens, including a third-place finish in 2017 when he fired a third-round 62 at Salem Country Club. He tied for fifth the following year at The Broadmoor’s East Course. The 59-year-old has been victorious on four professional tours, including PGA Tour Champions. His son, Jackson, is a starting pitcher for Major League Baseball’s Detroit Tigers.

 

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE III – Shane Bertsch, a Colorado native who was born in Denver and resides in Parker, will play in his third U.S. Senior Open. He recorded three victories on the Web.com Tour (now Korn Ferry Tour) and won the 1998 Colorado Open at Saddlebrook Golf Course, in Aurora. A top tennis player on the junior level in his home state, he once battled with future No. 1-ranked player and International Tennis Hall of Fame member Andre Agassi.

 

LOOKING BACK – Bernhard Langer is one of four players in the U.S. Senior Open field who competed in the same championship at The Broadmoor in 2008 and 2018, tying for ninth and 16th, respectively. Langer became the oldest player to win the U.S. Senior Open in 2023 at 65 years, 10 months and 6 days. He broke a mark previously held by Allen Doyle, who was 58 when he successfully defended his title in 2006. Langer, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, won his second U.S. Senior Open 13 years after earning his first title in 2010.

 

THREESOME OF CHAMPIONS – There have been 23 players in the history of the U.S. Open to claim the championship more than once. Three who have accomplished the feat are in this year’s U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor. Ernie Els won the U.S. Open in 1994 and 1997 and owns a pair of Open Championship wins (2002, 2012). Els has combined to win 47 times on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. Lee Janzen captured the U.S. Open in 1993 and 1998. Retief Goosen, who was runner-up along with Mike Weir in the 2021 U.S. Senior Open, won the U.S. Open in 2001 and 2004.

 

THE COACHES – Andrew Sapp guided Purdue University to an NCAA Tournament berth in his first year as head coach in 2024-25. He previously was a Boilermaker assistant for two years and was a head coach at East Carolina, North Carolina and Michigan. Sapp was the medalist (67) in the Mesa, Ariz., final qualifier on June 2 and will make his second U.S. Senior Open start. Darin Fisher coaches both the men’s and women’s teams at William Penn University, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. In his first year, Fisher helped the women win the Heartland of America Athletic Conference title and make an NAIA Championship appearance. He was also a medalist in final qualifying with a 3-under-par 69 at Shadow Ridge Country Club, in Omaha, Neb., on May 27. Eric Rolland is the men’s and women’s coach at Augsburg University, a NCAA Division III school located in Minneapolis, Minn.

 

AN AMATEUR’S ASSIST – Chris Devlin, a two-stage qualifier for this year’s U.S. Senior Open, may be better known for introducing 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Devlin, who was born in Northern Ireland and is now a healthcare executive, gave up some of his scholarship money so McDowell could attend. Devlin was also a decorated UAB player and a three-time conference player of the year. He dealt with a neuromuscular disease throughout his career and had open heart surgery in 2006 that forced him to leave the game for more than a year. He returned to qualify for the 2008 U.S. Open through both stages. He competed in Nationwide (now Korn Ferry) Tour and European Tour events before regaining his amateur status in 2019.

 

WHAT’S IN A NAME – Canada’s Dave Bunker, who will play in his third U.S. Senior Open but first since 2016, is well-schooled when it comes to his last name and playing golf. He is a retired middle school teacher and boys’ and girls’ basketball coach in Ridgeway, Ontario. A member of the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame, he has put together a solid amateur career. Bunker has won Canadian Mid-Amateur titles, and the 2021 Florida Senior Amateur. Last year, he advanced to the quarterfinals in the U.S. Senior Amateur. The 60-year-old has also raised twin daughters, Kristine and Sandra, who went on to be collegiate swimmers.

 

MANY FIRSTS – Tim O’Neal, of Savannah, Ga., is playing in his first U.S. Senior Open. He was exempt from qualifying after winning his first PGA Tour Champions event last October, a two-stroke victory in the Dominion Energy Charity Classic. O’Neal has been victorious on six professional tours, including the Advocates Professional Golf Association. He played in the first APGA tournament in 2010 and has won nine events during his career. O’Neal, who played in his first and lone U.S. Open in 2015 at Chambers Bay, was sponsored for two years early in his career by Academy Award-winning actor Will Smith.

 

A QUALIFYING SUCCESS – Olin Browne became the first U.S. Senior Open champion to have to qualify for the championship as the exemption categories have changed with the two-stage process in its first year. Browne, who won the 2011 Senior Open at Inverness Club, in Toledo, Ohio, was one of eight players to advance from the Jupiter, Fla., final qualifier on June 12. He is playing in his 14th Senior Open. Browne also famously fired a 59 in the second round of a 36-hole qualifier to earn a spot in the 2005 U.S. Open field. He had shot 73 in the morning at Woodmont Country Club, in Rockville, Md. Browne would share the lead during the first two rounds at Pinehurst No. 2 before tying for 23rd.

 

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLPARK – Burke Cromer, the head professional at Mid Carolina Golf Club, was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1988 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. He spent two years in the minors with the Atlanta Braves organization until a should injury sent him on a path to golf. The 55-year-old from Irmo, S.C., joined the U.S. Senior Open field when Jay Haas withdrew, getting a spot as the first alternate from the Wallace, N.C., final qualifier. Cromer, who earned all-conference honors as an infielder at the University of South Carolina, from 1989-92, has won four consecutive South Carolina Senior Opens. His brothers, Tripp and D.T., have each played with MLB teams. Tripp was an infielder with St. Louis, Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston, while D.T. was a Cincinnati first baseman.

 

BROADCAST TEAM – Thomas Levet and Notah Begay III worked as television commentators and analysts at this year’s U.S. Open, held at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club. Levet, who is competing in his third U.S. Senior Open, was on the French Canal+ broadcast team. The 56-year-old has won six times on the European Tour (now DP World Tour) and claimed three European Senior (now Legends Tour) titles. Begay, 52, of Albuquerque, N.M., served as broadcaster for NBC/Golf Channel. He will also play in his third U.S. Senior Open. A member of the 1995 USA Walker Cup Team, Begay has registered four PGA Tour victories.

 

HONORARY CHAIR – Colorado native Hale Irwin, a World Golf Hall of Famer and five-time USGA champion, is serving as honorary chair of the 45th U.S. Senior Open. Irwin, the 1998 and 2000 U.S. Senior Open champion, produced 20 PGA Tour victories and set a record by winning 45 Champions events that was broken by Bernhard Langer when he claimed the 2023 U.S. Senior Open at SentryWorld. Irwin is best known for his U.S. Open victories in 1974, 1979 and 1990, and is one of just six players to win the championship three or more times. He was a three-sport athlete at Boulder High School and went on to star at the University of Colorado where he twice was selected first-team All-Big Eight Conference as a defensive back in football and won the 1967 NCAA individual golf championship.

 

LATE TO THE FIELD – Matt Gogel, the first alternate from the Omaha, Neb., final qualifying site., was added to the field when Fred Couples, the 2010 U.S. Senior Open runner-up, withdrew. Gogel, a 54-year-old professional from Mission Hills, Kan., is playing in his third U.S. Senior Open. He shot 72 at Shadow Ridge Country Club and was involved in a 3-for-1 playoff for one of four available spots in the qualifier. Gogel has competed in 13 USGA championships, including seven U.S. Opens. His best finish was a tie for 12th in 2001 at Southern Hills Country Club, in Tulsa, Okla. Gogel, who was born in Denver, Colo., recorded his lone PGA Tour victory in 2002 at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

 

Ron Philo, the first alternate from the Jupiter, Fla., final qualifying site, was added to the field when Robert Allenby withdrew. A 59-year-old professional from Scotia, N.Y., who won the 2006 PGA Professional Championship, Philo is competing in his second U.S. Senior Open. He just completed his first year as the head coach at Palm Beach State College in Florida. His wife, Susan Bond-Philo, is Palm Beach State women’s coach and played in last year’s U.S. Senior Women’s Open. His sister, Laura Diaz, made 15 U.S. Women’s Open starts and won twice on the LPGA Tour.
 

ON TOUR – In 2025, Miguel Angel Jimenez has won four PGA Tour Champions events, including the Kaulig Companies Championship, while Angel Cabrera has been victorious in three tournaments. Cabrera, the 2007 U.S. Open champion, captured two senior majors - the Regions Tradition and Senior PGA Championship - in consecutive weeks. Jimenez, a runner-up in both the U.S. Open and U.S. Senior Open during his career, has won 21 European Tour (now DP World Tour) and 17 PGA Tour Champions tournaments.

 

Multiple PGA Tour Champions Winners in 2025:

4, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Hassan Trophy II, Hoag Classic, Principal Charity Classic, Kaulig Companies Championship)

3, Angel Cabrera (James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational, Regions Tradition, Senior PGA Championship)

 

Bold – 2025 U.S. Senior Open competitor

IN MEMORIAM – Chi Chi Rodriguez, who lost in an 18-hole playoff with Jack Nicklaus in the 1991 U.S. Senior Open at Oakland Hills, is among a group of notable players who passed away since this championship was last played. Rodriguez, who died at age 88 on Aug. 8, 2024, posted seven top-10 finishes in 16 U.S. Senior Open starts. He recorded 22 PGA Tour Champions victories, including two major titles, won eight PGA Tour events, and competed in 16 U.S. Opens.

Jim Dent, a winner of 12 PGA Tour Champions tournaments, died on May 2, 2025 at age 85. Dent played in 16 U.S. Senior Opens and posted five top-10 finishes. He tied for third in 1989 at Laurel Valley Golf Club, in Pennsylvania. He also played in five U.S. Opens. J.C. Snead, the nephew of World Golf Hall of Famer Sam Snead, died at age 84 on April 26, 2025. Snead competed in 13 U.S. Senior Opens and tied for fifth in 1995, the same year he captured the Senior Players Championship. Snead, who won eight times on the PGA Tour, played in 15 U.S. Opens and tied for second in 1978 at Cherry Hills Country Club, in Colorado.

Jay Sigel, a five-time USGA champion, died at age 81 on April 19, 2025. Sigel twice won the U.S. Amateur (1982, 1983) and was a three-time U.S. Mid-Amateur titlist (1983, 1985, 1987). He played in 12 U.S. Senior Opens, with his best finish a tie for fifth in 1996 at Canterbury Golf Club in Ohio, and five U.S. Opens. Sigel was a member nine winning USA Walker Cup Teams and helped the USA win three World Amateur Team Championships.

No comments:

Post a Comment