On a beautiful, warm early summer day in Newport, a slight breeze cooling the air, some of the world’s once-best golfers were teeing off for the first round of the 44th U.S. Senior Open Championship at Newport Country Club.
This was the same course where it all began – Friday, October 4, 1895. The first U.S. Open golf championship, 36 holes – four times around the Newport Country Club’s nine-hole seaside course. All in one day. There were 11 golfers, ten professionals, and one amateur: the winner, Horace Rawlings by two strokes over Willie Dunn.
The first U.S. Amateur tournament was actually held just before the Open championship in 1985, from October 1 to 3, with a field of 32.
This week’s senior tournament is the fifth USGA championship held at the Newport Country Club. The USGA accepted 3,029 entries for this year’s seniors open. Qualifying rounds were held at 33 sites from May 13 – June 5 in 24 states. After qualifying, the starting field today was 156 golfers. Following the first two rounds the field will be reduced to 60 golfers.
To be eligible for seniors’ tournaments, golfers must be 50-plus years old.
Among the entrants this year are Bernard Langer, who was the U.S. Senior Open champion in 2010 and last year; Lee Eastwood, 44 professional wins; Rhode Island’s Brett Quigley, two-time PGA Tour winner; and Rhode Island’s Billy Andrade, a four-time winner on the PGA tour; and many more top names.
Last year, the seniors’ tournament gave out about $4 million in prize money, with the winner, Langer, receiving $750,000. This year’s prizes have yet to be announced.
For Newport, this is another major event that spotlights a city that continues to be ranked among the top tourist destinations in the country. The tournament is being televised nationally, and hundreds of players, PGA employees, and possibly thousands of spectators are being drawn to the city and surrounding communities.
Photo Gallery
All photos by Frank Prosnitz/What’sUpNewp
Frank,
Thanks for being candid in saying once best pros. It’s the only reason I’m not attending. Volunteered in 80’s when Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest sponsored the the “table setters,” the guys who played for paltry purses in their prime, paving the way for today’s millionaires. However, a great win for Newport tourism with invaluable publicity. Evan Smith at Discover Newport must be levitating!