Four golfers share the record for most U.S. Open victories with four titles each: Willie Anderson (1901, 1903-1905), Bobby Jones (1923, 1926, 1929, 1930), Ben Hogan (1948, 1950, 1951, 1953), and Jack Nicklaus (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980). Tiger Woods sits just behind them with three wins. The U.S. Open has been played since 1895, making it one of the oldest championships in professional golf and a cornerstone of the major championship calendar.

Key U.S. Open Records

• Most wins (4): Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus. Anderson holds the unique distinction of winning three straight from 1903 to 1905, a streak no one has matched.
• Youngest champion: John McDermott won back-to-back titles in 1911 and 1912, claiming his first at just 19 years old. He was also the first American-born player to win.
• Oldest champion: Hale Irwin captured his third U.S. Open in 1990 at Medinah at age 45, making a 45-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to force a playoff.
• Lowest 72-hole score: Rory McIlroy shot 16-under-par 268 at Congressional in 2011, breaking the previous record by four strokes and winning by eight.
• Largest margin of victory: Tiger Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by 15 strokes, the largest margin in major championship history.
• Notable playoff results: Tiger Woods defeated Rocco Mediate in a 19-hole Monday playoff at Torrey Pines in 2008 while playing on a broken leg. Jack Fleck stunned Ben Hogan in a 1955 playoff at The Olympic Club.
• Consecutive wins: Willie Anderson (1903-1905), John McDermott (1911-1912), Bobby Jones (1929-1930), Ralph Guldahl (1937-1938), Ben Hogan (1950-1951), Curtis Strange (1988-1989), and Brooks Koepka (2017-2018) all won back-to-back U.S. Opens.

About the U.S. Open

The U.S. Open Championship is conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and has been played annually since 1895, with breaks only during World War I (1917-1918) and World War II (1942-1945). It is widely considered the toughest test in professional golf. The USGA is famous for setting up courses with narrow fairways, deep rough, firm greens, and demanding pin positions. Par is meant to be a good score at the U.S. Open, and winning totals often hover near even par or just a few strokes under.

Unlike other majors, the U.S. Open is a truly open championship. Any professional or amateur with a USGA Handicap Index of 1.4 or lower can enter qualifying. Thousands attempt to earn a spot through local and sectional qualifiers each year, giving the tournament a democratic character that sets it apart from invitation-only events like the Masters.

The USGA rotates the U.S. Open among America's most celebrated courses. Pebble Beach Golf Links, Oakmont Country Club, Shinnecock Hills, Winged Foot, Pinehurst No. 2, and Merion Golf Club are among the most frequent hosts. Each venue brings its own character, but the USGA's setup ensures that every U.S. Open demands accuracy, patience, and mental resilience above all else.

Complete List of U.S. Open Winners