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U.S. Open 2017: 11 standout facts and figures for golf's second major at Erin Hills

U.S. Open 2017: 11 standout facts and figures for golf's second major at Erin Hills

The 117th edition of the U.S. Open gets under way Thursday at Erin Hills, with Dustin Johnson bidding to defend the title he won at Oakmont 12 months ago.

Johnson would end the long wait for a back-to-back winner if he were to collect his second major crown, while also maintaining his excellent record of top-10 finishes at the sport's biggest events.

MORE: U.S. Open tee times | Odds to win at Erin Hills

Rory McIlroy made U.S. Open history in 2011 but has struggled to hit the heights since then, and Phil Mickelson — the tournament's "nearly man" — apparently won't be bidding to finally finish his career Grand Slam this time around.

Here, with the help of Opta, we take a look at some of the standout facts and figures around the 2017 U.S. Open.


11 standout facts about golf's U.S. Open




4 — Willie Anderson, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones and Jack Nicklaus hold the record for most wins at the U.S. Open (4). Tiger Woods is one behind on three wins, alongside Hale Irwin.

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19 & 45 — John McDermott is the youngest player to win the U.S. Open (19 years, 10 months and 14 days in 1911), and Hale Irwin is the oldest (45 years and 15 days in 1990).

8 — None of the last eight U.S. Opens has been decided by a playoff, the last one dating back to 2008, when Tiger Woods famously held off Rocco Mediate. It's currently the longest run without a playoff in golf's four majors.

4 — Since 2010, more Europeans have won the U.S. Open than any other major: four out of seven (Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Martin Kaymer).

2 (in a row) — Dustin Johnson could become the first player to win consecutive U.S. Opens since Curtis Strange (1988-89). He's finished in the top five in each of his last three U.S. Open participations: T4 in 2014, T2 in 2015 and winner last year. Worth noting: If not for a three-putt on the 72nd hole in 2015, he could be shooting for a three in a row.

7 — Johnson has racked up seven top 10s in his last 10 majors, more than any other player.

6 — Sergio Garcia won this year's Masters, his first major victory in his 74th attempt. Only six players have won the Masters and U.S. Open in the same year: Craig Wood (1941), Ben Hogan (1951, '53), Arnold Palmer (1960), Jack Nicklaus (1972), Tiger Woods (2002) and Jordan Spieth (2015).

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268 — Rory McIlroy holds the record for lowest score at the U.S. Open: 268 (-16) in 2011 at Congressional. Since then, he's never finished better than T-9 in the year's second major (2015).

6 — Phil Mickelson has finished second in the U.S. Open on six occasions, a record. The U.S. Open is the only major he hasn't won, in 26 attempts (24 as a professional, two as an amateur).

5 — Jason Day has secured a top 10 in five of his six U.S. Opens, including the last four.

77 — This will be Lee Westwood’s 77th major, but he is as yet winless.