The Masters has Augusta National. The Open Championship is the oldest and is played on. some of the greatest links courses. The PGA Championship has a field exclusively of professionals. While each of the majors have their own personality and character, the U.S. Open stands out.
The U.S. Open is renowned for its difficulty; the United States Golf Association once called it the "toughest test in golf." While in recent years, it appears that the USGA has been a little more lenient with the set up and difficulty of the golf courses, the course set ups are still highly demanding. Course set up philosophies have evolved, but hallmarks of U.S. Open courses are extreme length, narrow fairways, thick rough, and fast greens. The rotating venues add to the difficulty, as players need to learn a new course every year. Even with the recently enacted scheduling model with "anchor sites," the championship visits courses only once every six or seven years, players need to adapt.
The challenge is so great that par is often a winning score, underscoring the U.S. Open's reputation as the toughest major to win. Sandy Tatum, who served as the president of the USGA in the 1970s, said about the U.S. Open set ups, "we are not trying to humiliate the best golfers in the world; we are simply trying to identify who they are." This oft-repeated line is the unofficial mantra of the U.S. Open.
With the USGA trying to identify the greatest golfers at their flagship championship, the tournament is one of the most democratic in the game. Anyone (with a handicap index of 0.4 or less) can enter qualifying. It is not just a tournament for the elite; it is a tournament for everyone. While there are exemptions for some of the top ranked players, approximately half of the field is filled with golfers who gain entry through one or two rounds of qualifying.
A teaching professional from South Carolina. A science teacher from Oregon. A high school player from Texas. A college player from California. An accountant from New York. A custodian from Iowa. Any one of these golfers (assuming their handicap is low enough) can tee it up in qualifying, play well enough to advance, and maybe play well enough to qualify for the national championship.
The U.S. Open is for the dreamers. Those who dream of teeing it up with the best in the world. Those who dream of becoming the best in the world. Those who dream of playing some of the nation's greatest and most iconic courses. Those who dream of hitting iconic shots.
Pebble Beach. Shinnecock Hills. Winged Foot. Merion. Pinehurst. These courses are steeped in American golfing history. These courses have been the stage for some of golf's most unforgettable moments. Payne Stewart's putt on the 18th green in 1999 at Pinehurst. Jack Nicklaus' 1-iron in 1972 and Tom Watson's chip in 1982, both on the 17th hole at Pebble Beach. Ben Hogan's 1-iron in 1950 at Merion. These shots are etched in golfing legend.
The mere fact that the U.S. Open is widely known as the most difficult championship in the game, it is amazing that nearly 10,000 players from around the world entered qualifying. Golfers are gluttons for punishment. But, golfers are also always chasing after that one perfect shot, that one best round, that one best tournament. That is what the U.S. Open provides: a chance to chase those feelings on the grandest stage.
The U.S. Open's combination of challenging courses, historic venues, inclusive nature, and dramatic finishes make it the best major in golf.
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