The US Open is one of the most anticipated and exciting tournaments during every golf season. As the third major championship occurring in 2021, it should also become one of the most bet on golf events.
The US Open, at a glance
Typically, the US Open is the second major tourney played; however, with the PGA Tour’s adjusted shortened schedule, it is the third. Tiger Woods won the Masters in April, and Brooks Koepka defended his title at the PGA Championship last month.
The 2021 US Open will be at Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of the most historic sites to play golf in the country. The course is located directly on the coast of California, about an hour south of San Jose.
What makes the US Open stand out from the other big tournaments of the year is the level of difficulty of the courses. Pebble Beach lives up to this reputation as it’s one of the most challenging places to golf in the entire world.
US Open history
This year’s tournament will be the 119th US Open, with the first dating back to 1895. Pebble Beach will be hosting the Open for the sixth time. The course hosted the 1977 PGA Championship.
In 1972, the great Jack Nicklaus won the first US Open held at Pebble Beach with a score of +2. The most recent, played in 2010, was won by Graeme McDowell at even par.
Although there will be some terrific golf played this week, the scores might not indicate that as much as other tournaments.
Koepka enters as not only the two-time defending US Open champion but as the best golfer on tour right now. The 29-year-old finished tied for second at the Masters and held on to win his fourth major title at Bethpage Black in May.
He’s ranked first in the Official World Golf Rankings and is the unquestioned favorite heading into the US Open.
Let’s take a more in-depth look into the 2021 US Open and examine everything you need to know to watch and gamble on this year’s tournament.
US Open structure
The US Open will be played over four days, starting June 13. It will consist of 156 golfers participating on the 7,000-yard course.
Pebble Beach has a par of 71, thus making a total par of 284 for the duration of the championship.
All the participants will golf today and Friday, while those fortunate enough to make the cut will finish through the weekend.
The total purse for the major is $12.5 million, which ties with the Players Championship for the largest payout of any PGA Tour event.
Qualifier tournaments
Every golfer who has the privilege of playing in the US Open must qualify first. A vast majority of the field was already exempt from further qualification because of their past performances.
Here is a list of all the ways this year’s field has become eligible for the tournament:
- A past winner of the US Open in the last 10 years.
- Winners of 2018 US Amateur, US Junior Amateur, US Mid-Amateur Championships and 2018 US Amateur Championship runner-up.
- Winner of the 2018 Amateur Championship.
- Winner of the 2018 Mark H. McCormack Medal.
- Winners of the Masters in the last five years.
- Winners of the Open in the last five years.
- Winners of the PGA of America Championship.
- Winners of the Players Championship in the previous three years.
- Winners of PGA Tour events that award a full point for the season-ending tour championship.
- Winner of the 2018 US Senior Open Championship
- The 10 lowest scorers and anyone who ties for 10th place from the 2018 US Open.
- Golfers who have qualified for the season-ending 2018 tour championship.
- The top 60 point leaders and ties as of May 20, 2019, in the Official World Golf Rankings.
- The top 60 point leaders and ties as of June 10, 2019, in the Official World Golf Rankings.
- USGA special exemptions.
If a golfer didn’t hit one of the qualifications above, then he must participate in local and sectional tournament rounds in order to make the field.
Here are the US locations that held a sectional qualifier:
- Dallas, Texas
- Newport Beach, Calif.
- Streamsong, Fla.
- Ball Ground, Ga.
- Rockville, Md.
- Purchase, N.Y.
- Columbus, Ohio
- Springfield, Ohio
- Walla Walla, Wash.
2021 US Open golf odds
DraftKings Sportsbook provided the following odds to win the 2021 US Open in New Jersey, before the tournament began:
- Dustin Johnson +700
- Rory McIlroy +850
- Brooks Koepka +900
- Tiger Woods +1200
- Patrick Cantlay +2000
- Jordan Spieth +2100
- Rickie Fowler +2200
- Hideki Matsuyama +2800
- Jon Rahm +2900
- Justin Rose +2900
- Xander Schauffele +2900
- Tommy Fleetwood +3000
- Adam Scott +3000
- Webb Simpson +3000
- Justin Thomas +3300
- Matt Kuchar +3500
- Jason Day +3600
- Francesco Molinari +3600
- Paul Casey +4500
- Henrik Stenson +4500
- Phil Mickelson +5000
- Tony Finau +5500
- Shane Lowry +5500
- Brandt Snedeker +5500
- Sergio Garcia +6600
2021 US Open schedule and live streaming
The US Open will be available to watch through network TV as well as with a few live streaming options. (Times Eastern)
Thursday, June 13: Round 1
Fox Sports 1: 12:30-7:30 p.m.
Fox: 7:30-10:30 p.m.
Live stream:
- Golf Channel website stream: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
- Fox Sports Go app: 12:30-10:30 p.m.
- US Open website stream: 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Friday, June 14: Round 2
Fox Sports 1: 12:30-7:30 p.m.
Fox: 7:30-10:30 p.m.
Live stream:
- Golf Channel website stream: 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Fox Sports Go app: 12:30-10:30 p.m.
- US Open website stream: 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 15: Round 3
Fox: Noon-10 p.m.
Live stream:
- Golf Channel website stream: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Fox Sports Go app: Noon-10 p.m.
- US Open website stream: Noon-9 p.m.
Sunday, June 16: Round 4
Fox: 2-10 p.m.
Live stream:
- Golf Channel website stream: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Fox Sports Go app: 2-10 p.m.
- US Open website stream: Noon-9 p.m.
US Open fun facts
Most wins: The most wins at the US Open is four. Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus each have four titles.
Youngest winner: Jack McDermott is the youngest winner in the history of the US Open. He won in 1911 at the age of 19 years and 315 days.
Oldest winner: Hale Irwin is the oldest winner in tournament history. He won in 1990 at 45 years and 15 days.
Amateur winner: Amateurs have actually won the US Open several times, albeit quite a long time ago. Francis Ouimet, Jerome Travers, Charles Evans Jr., Bobby Jones and John Goodman have all won with amateur status. Jones was the most recent in 1939.
Oldest player to make the cut: Sam Snead was 61 years old when he made the weekend cut in 1973.
Most consecutive wins: Anderson won the US Open three consecutive times from 1903-05. Koepka can match this record with a victory this week.
Most consecutive top 10 finishes: Hogan miraculously finished in the top 10 for 16-straight years from 1940-56.
US Open golf winners
| Year | Winner | Course | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Brooks Koepka | Shinnecock Hills Golf Club | 281 (+1) |
| 2017 | Brooks Koepka | Erin Hills | 272 (−16) |
| 2016 | Dustin Johnson | Oakmont Country Club | 276 (−4) |
| 2015 | Jordan Spieth | Chambers Bay | 275 (−5) |
| 2014 | Martin Kaymer | Pinehurst Resort, Course No. 2 | 271 (−9) |
| 2013 | Justin Rose | Merion Golf Club, East Course | 281 (+1) |
| 2012 | Webb Simpson | Olympic Club, Lake Course | 281 (+1) |
| 2011 | Rory McIlroy | Congressional Country Club, Blue Course | 268 (−16) |
| 2010 | Graeme McDowell | Pebble Beach Golf Links | 284 (E) |
| 2009 | Lucas Glover | Bethpage State Park, Black Course | 276 (−4) |
| 2008 | Tiger Woods | Torrey Pines Golf Course, South Course | 283 (−1) |
| 2007 | Ángel Cabrera | Oakmont Country Club | 285 (+5) |
| 2006 | Geoff Ogilvy | Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course | 285 (+5) |
| 2005 | Michael Campbell | Pinehurst Resort, Course No. 2 | 280 (E) |
| 2004 | Retief Goosen | Shinnecock Hills Golf Club | 276 (−4) |
| 2003 | Jim Furyk | Olympia Fields Country Club, North Course | 272 (−8) |
| 2002 | Tiger Woods | Bethpage State Park, Black Course | 277 (−3) |
| 2001 | Retief Goosen | Southern Hills Country Club | 276 (−4) |
| 2000 | Tiger Woods | Pebble Beach Golf Links | 272 (−12) |
| 1999 | Payne Stewart | Pinehurst Resort, Course No. 2 | 279 (−1) |
| 1998 | Lee Janzen | Olympic Club, Lake Course | 280 (E) |
| 1997 | Ernie Els | Congressional Country Club, Blue Course | 276 (−4) |
| 1996 | Steve Jones | Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course | 278 (−2) |
| 1995 | Corey Pavin | Shinnecock Hills Golf Club | 280 (E) |
| 1994 | Ernie Els | Oakmont Country Club | 279 (−5) |
| 1993 | Lee Janzen | Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course | 272 (−8) |
| 1992 | Tom Kite | Pebble Beach Golf Links | 285 (−3) |
| 1991 | Payne Stewart | Hazeltine National Golf Club | 282 (−6) |
| 1990 | Hale Irwin | Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3 | 280 (−8) |
| 1989 | Curtis Strange | Oak Hill Country Club, East Course | 278 (−2) |
| 1988 | Curtis Strange | The Country Club, Composite Course | 278 (−6) |
| 1987 | Scott Simpson | Olympic Club, Lake Course | 277 (−3) |
| 1986 | Raymond Floyd | Shinnecock Hills Golf Club | 279 (−1) |
| 1985 | Andy North | Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course | 279 (−1) |
| 1984 | Fuzzy Zoeller | Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course | 276 (−4) |
| 1983 | Larry Nelson | Oakmont Country Club | 280 (−4) |
| 1982 | Tom Watson | Pebble Beach Golf Links | 282 (−6) |
| 1981 | David Graham | Merion Golf Club, East Course | 273 (−7) |
| 1980 | Jack Nicklaus | Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course | 272 (−8) |
| 1979 | Hale Irwin | Inverness Club | 284 (E) |
| 1978 | Andy North | Cherry Hills Country Club | 285 (+1) |
| 1977 | Hubert Green | Southern Hills Country Club | 278 (−2) |
| 1976 | Jerry Pate | Atlanta Athletic Club, Highlands Course | 277 (−3) |
| 1975 | Lou Graham | Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3 | 287 (+3) |
| 1974 | Hale Irwin | Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course | 287 (+7) |
| 1973 | Johnny Miller | Oakmont Country Club | 279 (−5) |
| 1972 | Jack Nicklaus | Pebble Beach Golf Links | 290 (+2) |
| 1971 | Lee Trevino | Merion Golf Club, East Course | 280 (E) |
| 1970 | Tony Jacklin | Hazeltine National Golf Club | 281 (−7) |
| 1969 | Orville Moody | Champions Golf Club, Cypress Creek Course | 281 (+1) |
| 1968 | Lee Trevino | Oak Hill Country Club, East Course | 275 (−5) |
| 1967 | Jack Nicklaus | Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course | 275 (−5) |
| 1966 | Billy Casper | Olympic Club, Lake Course | 278 (−2) |
| 1965 | Gary Player | Bellerive Country Club | 282 (+2) |
| 1964 | Ken Venturi | Congressional Country Club, Blue Course | 278 (−2) |
| 1963 | Julius Boros | The Country Club, Composite Course | 293 (+9) |
| 1962 | Jack Nicklaus | Oakmont Country Club | 283 (−1) |
| 1961 | Gene Littler | Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course | 281 (+1) |
| 1960 | Arnold Palmer | Cherry Hills Country Club | 280 (−4) |
| 1959 | Billy Casper | Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course | 282 (+2) |
| 1958 | Tommy Bolt | Southern Hills Country Club | 283 (+3) |
| 1957 | Dick Mayer | Inverness Club | 282 (+2) |
| 1956 | Cary Middlecoff | Oak Hill Country Club, East Course | 281 (+1) |
| 1955 | Jack Fleck | Olympic Club, Lake Course | 287 (+7) |
| 1954 | Ed Furgol | Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course | 284 (+4) |
| 1953 | Ben Hogan | Oakmont Country Club | 283 (−5) |
| 1952 | Julius Boros | Northwood Club | 281 (+1) |
| 1951 | Ben Hogan | Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course | 287 (+7) |
| 1950 | Ben Hogan | Merion Golf Club, East Course | 287 (+7) |
| 1949 | Cary Middlecoff | Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3 | 286 (+2) |
| 1948 | Ben Hogan | Riviera Country Club | 276 (−8) |
| 1947 | Lew Worsham | St. Louis Country Club | 282 (−2) |
| 1946 | Lloyd Mangrum | Canterbury Golf Club | 284 (−4) |
| 1941 | Craig Wood | Colonial Country Club | 284 (+4) |
| 1940 | Lawson Little | Canterbury Golf Club | 287 (−1) |
| 1939 | Byron Nelson | Philadelphia Country Club, Spring Mill Course | 284 (−4) |
| 1938 | Ralph Guldahl | Cherry Hills Country Club | 284 (E) |
| 1937 | Ralph Guldahl | Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course | 281 (+1) |
| 1936 | Tony Manero | Baltusrol Golf Club, Upper Course | 282 (−2) |
| 1935 | Sam Parks, Jr. | Oakmont Country Club | 299 (+11) |
| 1934 | Olin Dutra | Merion Golf Club, East Course | 293 (+13) |
| 1933 | Johnny Goodman (a) | North Shore Country Club | 287 (−1) |
| 1932 | Gene Sarazen | Fresh Meadow Country Club | 286 (+2) |
| 1931 | Billy Burke | Inverness Club | 292 (+4) |
| 1930 | Bobby Jones (a) | Interlachen Country Club | 287 (−1) |
| 1929 | Bobby Jones (a) | Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course | 294 |
| 1928 | Johnny Farrell | Olympia Fields Country Club, North Course | 294 |
| 1927 | Tommy Armour | Oakmont Country Club | 301 |
| 1926 | Bobby Jones (a) | Scioto Country Club | 293 |
| 1925 | Willie Macfarlane | Worcester Country Club | 291 |
| 1924 | Cyril Walker | Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course | 297 |
| 1923 | Bobby Jones | Inwood Country Club | 296 |
| 1922 | Gene Sarazen | Skokie Country Club | 288 |
| 1921 | Jim Barnes | Columbia Country Club | 289 |
| 1920 | Ted Ray | Inverness Club | 295 |
| 1919 | Walter Hagen | Brae Burn Country Club, Main Course | 301 |
| 1916 | Chick Evans (a) | The Minikahda Club | 286 |
| 1915 | Jerome Travers (a) | Baltusrol Golf Club, Revised Course | 297 |
| 1914 | Walter Hagen | Midlothian Country Club | 290 |
| 1913 | Francis Ouimet (a) | The Country Club | 304 |
| 1912 | John McDermott | Country Club of Buffalo | 294 |
| 1911 | John McDermott | Chicago Golf Club | 307 |
| 1910 | Alex Smith | Philadelphia Cricket Club, St. Martin's Course | 298 |
| 1909 | George Sargent | Englewood Golf Club | 290 |
| 1908 | Fred McLeod | Myopia Hunt Club | 322 |
| 1907 | Alec Ross | Philadelphia Cricket Club, St. Martin's Course | 302 |
| 1906 | Alex Smith | Onwentsia Club | 295 |
| 1905 | Willie Anderson | Myopia Hunt Club | 314 |
| 1904 | Willie Anderson | Glen View Club | 303 |
| 1903 | Willie Anderson | Baltusrol Golf Club, Original Course | 307 |
| 1902 | Laurie Auchterlonie | Garden City Golf Club | 307 |
| 1901 | Willie Anderson | Myopia Hunt Club | 331 |
| 1900 | Harry Vardon | Chicago Golf Club | 313 |
| 1899 | Willie Smith | Baltimore Country Club, Roland Park Course | 315 |
| 1898 | Fred Herd | Myopia Hunt Club | 328 |
| 1897 | Joe Lloyd | Chicago Golf Club | 162 |
| 1896 | James Foulis | Shinnecock Hills Golf Club | 152 |
| 1895 | Horace Rawlins | Newport Country Club | 173 |
US Open FAQ
Who qualifies for the US Open golf?
Any golfer who has qualified for one of the exemptions or plays his way through local and sectional tournaments qualifies for the tourney.
Where is the US Open this year?
Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, Calif.
What is the highest score ever to win the US Open at Pebble Beach?
Nicklaus won the 1972 US Open with a score of +2. He’s the only golfer to win at Pebble Beach with a score over par.
What are the four majors in golf?
The four majors of the golf season are the Masters, PGA Championship, US Open and the Open Championship.
What is the total purse for the 2021 US Open?
The total purse of the tournament is $12.5 million. The top golfer of the week will receive $2.25 million.
How many times has Pebble Beach hosted the US Open?
This year will be the sixth time the major championship is being played on Pebble Beach. The most recent was in 2010 when McDowell won.
How much are tickets to the US Open?
Ticket prices vary based on what day you’re looking to attend. Practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday are around $60, while live rounds on Thursday are around $125. Prices increase for the weekend rounds as well.