Us Open Golf Championship: History and Modernity

Abstract

Topicality. Modern golf as a professional sport demonstrates at the same time the high achievements of the athletes in competitive activities and the high level of organization of tournaments of various levels. One of the highest-level tournaments in men's golf today is the US Open. It has a long history and is interesting to analyze from the point of view of studying the features of the competition system. The Purpose: to reveal the key aspects of the formation and development of the US Open tournament in the context of history and modernity. Research Methods: analysis and synthesis, historical method, systematic approach. Results and Conclusions. The United States Golf Association (USGA) started the US Open tournament in 1895 as a tournament open to golf amateurs and professionals. During the first three years, athletes played 36 holes, and already in 1898 and to this day, competitions take place on 72 holes according to the system of counting the number of strokes on each hole (the one with the lowest number wins). Throughout history, the competition has been held every year with the exception of the years of World War II (1942–1945). The competition format has not undergone significant changes for several centuries and, like the calendar, has been characterized by relative stability. Only in part of the playoff round were periodic adjustments made (athletes in different years played from 72 holes to 2 today). The prize fund of the competition grew from $ 335 in 1895 to $ 17.5 million in 2022, which is, accordingly, one of the facts of the gradual intensification of the USGA's commercial activity in terms of the development of the tournament. Since 1968, the US Open has been part of the PGA Tour, since 1973 – part of the European Tour and since 1979 – one of the four majors of the highest level in golf.