Far Hills, N.J. (Feb. 26) - Starting March 1, entry applications for the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links, the U.S. Women's Open at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club and the U.S. Senior Open at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash., will be available online.

In the ensuing weeks, entry applications for the 10 amateur competitions conducted by the USGA, including the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women's Amateur, will also be available online.

Visit http://www.usga.org/uploadedFiles/USGAHome/championships/competitions2010.pdf
for a complete listing of 2010 USGA championships.

According to figures from the USGA championship administration department, 91 percent of all applications received in 2009 were filed online. Those numbers have been consistent over the past several years, and the USGA strongly encourages all applicants to file electronically.

If assistance is needed during the entry process, visit the Championship FAQ section of the USGA Web site at: http://www.usga.org/championships/faq/Championships-FAQs/.

In 2010, a Condition of Competition is in effect regarding the new grooves rule adopted by the USGA for the three Open championships. At the U.S. Women's Open and the U.S. Senior Open the condition will be in effect at all qualifying sites as well as the championship proper. At the U.S. Open, the condition will not be in effect at Local (first stage) Qualifying but it will be in effect at all Sectional (second stage) Qualifying sites as well as the championship proper. The condition will not be in effect for any stage of USGA amateur championships in 2010.

The USGA has created an online reference resource called the Informational Club Database (http://www.usga.org/InfoClubsDB/Intro.html) to assist players in determining whether their irons, hybrids and fairway woods comply with the new grooves rule.

About the USGA
The USGA is the national governing body of golf in the USA and Mexico. The USGA annually conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open, U.S. Senior Open and 10 national amateur championships. It also conducts two state team championships and helps conduct the Walker Cup Match, Curtis Cup Match and World Amateur Team Championships.

The USGA also writes the Rules of Golf, conducts equipment testing, provides expert course maintenance consultations, funds research for better turf and a better environment, maintains a Handicap System®, celebrates the history of the game, and administers an ongoing "For the Good of the Game" grants program, which has allocated more than $65 million over 13 years to successful programs that bring the game's values to youths from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities. For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.

THE WINNER'S SHARE: First-place money for this Open will be at least $1,260,000 (was $1,260,000 in 2007). The total purse will be at least $7 million (was $7 million in 2007). Actual figures are released during the week.

THE CUT

The starting field of 156 golfers will be cut after 36 holes to the low 60 scorers (and ties), and any player within 10 strokes of the leader.

Highest U.S. Open Cuts
Since 1980

'07 Oakmont           +10
'02 Bethpage          +10
'86 Shinnecock Hills  +10
'06 Winged Foot              +9
'83 Oakmont            +9


PLAYOFF

In the case of a tie after 72 holes, an 18–hole playoff will be held on June 16 (Monday), beginning at noon (ET). The last playoff was in 2001 at Southern Hills, won by Retief Goosen over Mark Brooks (70-72).

U.S. Open Playoffs
Since 1990

2001 Retief Goosen defeated Mark Brooks
1994 Ernie Els defeated Loren Roberts and Colin Montgomerie
1991 Payne Stewart defeated Scott Simpson
1990 Hale Irwin defeated Mike Donald

U.S. Opens
Held in State of California

                        City                    Winner
2008 Torrey Pines       San Diego               ?
2000 Pebble Beach       Pebble Beach            Tiger Woods
1998 Olympic Club               San Francisco   Lee Janzen
1992 Pebble Beach               Pebble Beach    Tom Kite
1987 Olympic Club               San Francisco   Scott Simpson
1982 Pebble Beach               Pebble Beach    Tom Watson
1972 Pebble Beach               Pebble Beach    Jack Nicklaus
1966 Olympic Club               San Francisco   Billy Casper
1955 Olympic Club               San Francisco   Jack Fleck
1948 Riviera            Pacific Palisades       Ben Hogan

Most U.S. Opens
By State

New York                17
Pennsylvania    15
Illinois                13
California              10

Longest Courses
Majors History
                     Yards
Torrey Pines       7,643         2008 U.S. Open
Medinah C.C.         7,561     2006 PGA Championship
Whistling Straits    7,536     2004 PGA Championship
Augusta National     7,445     2006-08 Masters
Columbine C.C.       7,436     1967 PGA Championship
Medinah C.C.         7,401     1999 PGA Championship

LONGEST HOLES IN U.S OPEN HISTORY
667 yards – 12th at Oakmont, 2007
642 yards – 5th at Southern Hills, 2001
640 yards – 12th at Winged Foot, 2006
630 yards – 16th at Olympic Club, 1955
630 yards – 17th at Baltusrol, 1980
623 yards – 17th at Baltusrol, 1967

LONGEST PAR 4s IN U.S. OPEN HISTORY
515 yards – 6th at Torrey Pines, 2008
514 yards – 9th at Winged Foot, 2006
504 yards – 12th at Torrey Pines, 2008
500 yards – 15th at Oakmont, 2007
499 yards – 12th at Bethpage, 2002
496 yards – 9th at Olympia Fields, 2003
492 yards – 10th at Bethpage, 2002
492 yards – 16th at Pinehurst No. 2, 2005

LONGEST PAR 3s IN U.S. OPEN HISTORY
288 yards – 8th at Oakmont, 2007
253 yards – 8th at Oakmont, 1927, 1935 and 1962
249 yards – 8th at Oakmont, 1994
244 yards – 8th at Oakmont, 1973
240 yards – 8th at Oakmont, 1994
235 yards – 2nd at Congressional, 1997

HOSTING TOUR EVENT AND U.S. OPEN: With the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, it marks the 8th time a major championship has been staged at a venue that hosted a PGA TOUR event earlier that year.

                   Site             Tour Winner      Major Finish
2008 U.S. Open     Torrey Pines     Tiger Woods           ?
2000 U.S. Open     Pebble Beach     Tiger Woods          Won
1995 PGA           Riviera          Corey Pavin          Cut
1992 U.S. Open     Pebble Beach     Mark O'Meara         Cut
1982 U.S. Open     Pebble Beach     Jim Simons           Cut
1977 PGA           Pebble Beach     Tom Watson           T-6th
1972 U.S. Open     Pebble Beach     Jack Nicklaus        Won
1948 U.S. Open     Riviera          Ben Hogan            Won

CAN ANYONE WIN BESIDES TIGER OR PHIL? Not to diminish the chances of the other 154 players in the field, but the Buick Invitational has been won by EITHER Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson in eight of the last 10 years.

Buick Invitational Winners
Since 1999

2008 Tiger Woods                2003 Tiger Woods   
2007 Tiger Woods                2002 Jose Maria Olazabal<<
2006 Tiger Woods                2001 Phil Mickelson
2005 Tiger Woods                2000 Phil Mickelson
2004 John Daly<<                1999 Tiger Woods

Most Victories
U.S. Open History

Player                  Last Win
Jack Nicklaus   4     1980
Ben Hogan               4     1953
Bobby Jones             4     1930
Willie Anderson 4     1905
Hale Irwin              3     1990
----------------------------
Tiger Woods             2
Retief Goosen   2
Ernie Els               2
Lee Janzen      2   

Most PGA TOUR Wins
All-Time

Sam Snead      82
Jack Nicklaus  73
Tiger Woods    64
Ben Hogan      64
Arnold Palmer  62

OTHER CONTENDERS

Jim Furyk
-1 major win ('03 U.S. Open)
-T-2nd in each of last 2 U.S. Opens
-Made cut in 12 of 13 career U.S. Open starts
-Last PGA TOUR win came at 2007 Canadian Open

Sergio Garcia
-0 wins in 38 career major starts
-Won 2008 PLAYERS Championship; first PGA TOUR win since 2005 Booz Allen Classic
-Missed cut in last 2 U.S. Open appearances
-Best U.S. Open finish was T-3rd in 2005

Adam Scott
-0 wins in 28 career majors
-Missed cut in 4 of 6 U.S. Open starts
-Best U.S. Open finish was T-21st in 2006
-Won 2008 EDS Byron Nelson Championship

Vijay Singh
-3 career major wins ('98 PGA, '00 Masters, '04 PGA)
-19 wins after turning 40 (most in PGA TOUR history)
-Last PGA TOUR win came at 2007 Arnold Palmer Invitational
-Best finish in U.S. Open was T-3rd in 1999
-Has made 13 consecutive cuts at U.S. Open after missing cut in 1st start (1993)
-Finished in top 10 at U.S. Open in 5 of last 9 years

Ernie Els
-3 career major wins ('94 U.S. Open, '97 U.S. Open, '02 British Open)
-Trying to become 6th player with at least 3 U.S. Open titles
-Won '94 U.S. Open at Oakmont in 3-way playoff over Loren Roberts and Colin Montgomerie
-Won 2008 Honda Classic; first PGA TOUR win since 2004 WGC-American Express Championship
-Made 8 consecutive cuts in U.S. Open (T-51st in 2007)

Retief Goosen
-2 career major wins ('01 U.S. Open, '04 U.S. Open)
-Trying to become 6th player with at least 3 U.S. Open titles
-Last PGA TOUR win came at 2005 International
-Missed cut in last 2 U.S. Open appearances