Sports (washingtonpost.com)

U.S. Open Facts & Figures

Associated Press
Web Posted: Friday, June 11, 2004

Facts and figures for the U.S. Open:

Dates: June 17-20

Site: Shinnecock Hills Country Club

The course: Shinnecock is one of five founding clubs of the U.S. Golf Association. It held its first U.S. Open in 1896 under controversy for the first black (John Shippen) playing in the U.S. Open. The club was built on land formerly belonging to the Shinnecock Indian tribe. It opened in 1891, designed by Willie Davis, and was redesigned in 1931 by William Flynn. The course played at 4,423 in 1896. It also held U.S. Opens in 1986 and 1995.

Length: 6,996 yards

Par: 35-35 -- 70

Format: 72 holes, stroke play

Cut: Top 60 and ties, and anyone within 10 strokes of the lead after 36 holes.

Playoff, if necessary: 18 holes (stroke play) on June 21

Field: 156

Purse: $6.25 million.

Winner's share: $1,125,000

Defending champion: Jim Furyk

Last year: Furyk built a three-shot lead going into the final round and never let anyone get closer in the final round at Olympia Fields outside Chicago. Despite two bogeys on the final holes, Furyk closed with a 2-over 72 and finished at 272, joining Tiger Woods, Lee Janzen and Jack Nicklaus with the lowest 72-hole score in U.S. Open history. Stephen Leaney of Australia finished three shots behind.

Last week: Sergio Garcia won the Buick Classic in Harrison, N.Y., beating Rory Sabbatini on the third hole of a playoff. Padraig Harrington was eliminated on the second extra hole. The 24-year-old Spaniard also won the Byron Nelson Championship last month in a three-man playoff. ... England's Miles Tunnicliff won the Diageo Championship at Gleneagles in Scotland for his second European tour title.

U.S. Open champions at Shinnecock Hills: James Foulis (1896), Raymond Floyd (1986), Corey Pavin (1995).

Former U.S. Open champions in the field: Jim Furyk, Tiger Woods, Retief Goosen, Lee Janzen, Ernie Els, Corey Pavin, Raymond Floyd.

Noteworthy: The last six majors were captured by players who had never won a Grand Slam event.

Quoteworthy: "Guys that aren't prepared to play that golf course will lose their mind." -- John Cook.

Television (all times EDT): Thursday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., ESPN; 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., NBC Sports; 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., ESPN. Saturday-Sunday, 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., NBC Sports.