U.S. Senior Open
The U.S. Senior Open is one of the five major championships in senior golf, introduced 44 years ago in 1980. It is administered by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and is recognized as a major championship by both the PGA Tour Champions and the European Senior Tour. The lower age limit was 55 in 1980, but it was lowered to 50 for the second edition in 1981, which is the standard limit for men's senior professional golf tournaments. By definition, the event is open to amateurs, but has been dominated by professionals; through 2022, all editions have been won by pros. Like other USGA championships, it has been played on many courses throughout the United States.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Stevens Point, Wisconsin |
| Established | 1980 |
| Course(s) | SentryWorld Golf Course |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,102 yards (6,494 m) |
| Organized by | USGA |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions European Senior Tour |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Prize fund | US$4,000,000 |
| Month played | June/July |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 261 Steve Stricker (2019) |
| To par | −20 Fred Funk (2009) |
| Current champion | |
| Bernhard Langer | |
| Location Map | |
SentryWorld GC Location in the United States SentryWorld GC Location in Wisconsin | |
Bernhard Langer became the oldest U.S. Senior Open Champion in 2023, winning at the age of 65 years 10 months.
The total purse was the highest of any senior tour event until the Posco E&C Songdo Championship in South Korea, a Champions Tour event in 2010 and 2011 with a $3 million purse, but had a lower winner's share ($450,000). The U.S. Senior Open is again the highest purse on the PGA Tour Champions; in 2016 it was $3.75 million, and champion Gene Sauers earned $675,000. The purse in 2017 is anticipated to be $4 million, yielding a winner's share of $720,000.
Like other senior majors, players must walk the course unless they receive a medical exemption to use a cart. Winners gain entry into the following year's U.S. Open.
The playoff format was modified for 2018, reduced from three to two aggregate holes, followed by sudden death. The three-hole aggregate playoff was used in 2002 and 2014; the final 18-hole playoff at the U.S. Senior Open was in 1991, won by Jack Nicklaus.