U.S. Open 2023 Recap
The U.S. Open 2023 just took place, and it was certainly an exciting event. Here’s everything you need to know about this event and what took place at this Los Angeles Tournament that ran from June 15th until June 18th.
Last year's event, held at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, was won byMatt Fitzpatrick with a score of 274, six-under-par. It was a close one, with both Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris just one shot behind, but Fitzpatrick did just enough to stay ahead while shooting a 68 in the first, third, and final rounds. It was a case of staying steady and consistent from the young Englishman as he won his first major championship.
But how did things shake out in 2023? Read on for the highlights.
Who Won the Golf U.S. Open in 2023?
Wyndham Clark was ultimately the winner of the U.S. Open in 2023!
It was an unlikely outcome as the talk in the final days still surrounded Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler — even as Clark was rolling in Round 4.
In a true underdog story, Clark was winning his first PGA event in May 2023 at the Wells Fargo Championship and now claimed his first major at the U.S. Open 2023.
At one point, Clark had been struggling with poor play and the loss of his mother. However, now he’s come roaring back as the winner of the U.S. Open in 2023.
Where Was the Golf U.S. Open in 2023?
The 123rd U.S. Open Championship was held at the Los Angeles Country Club'sNorth Course, the first time the 126-year-old course has hosted this illustrious event. The course held the first Los Angeles Open in 1926, with the event returning four more times in 1934, 1935, 1936, and 1940.
U.S Open 2023 Schedule
The U.S. Open began, as is tradition, with three days of practice rounds before gearing up for the main event immediately after. Here's a breakdown of the schedule:
June 12th-14th - Practice Rounds
You might assume that the pros stroll onto the course on the first round and immediately begin hitting exquisite drives - but that's not how it works. Even the very best need a warm-up, and between the 12th and 14th of June, players were free to practice on the course, with spectators also welcome. Entry gates opened at 6:00 am on all three days, with the practice commencing at 6:45 am.
June 15th - Round 1
Round 1 began on the 15th of June, with the event teeing off at 6:45 am.
June 16th - Round 2
The following day again started at 6:45 am.
June 17th - Round 3
After the cut, the field whittled down to the top 60, with play beginning at 8:00 am.
June 18th - Round 4
Play began at 8:00 am.
How Does Qualifying Work for the 2023 U.S. Open?
While roughly half of the field was exempt from qualifying because of their world ranking, previous wins, or current season wins, half need to qualify for the U.S. Open.
Local Qualifying
This year's U.S. Open received a record 10,187 entries, with 109 local qualifying events needed to whittle them down to the 530 required to progress to the final qualifying round.
Final Qualifying
With local qualifying out of the way, the remaining 530 players could compete in13 different tournaments, with spots for the U.S. Open available for the winner and a certain number of runners-up.
The first of these tournaments was held in Surrey, England, on May 16th, the second and third on May 22nd, with one in Japan and the other in Texas. The final ten tournaments took place on June 5th at locations in the U.S. and Canada.
What Was the Purse for the 2023 U.S. Open?
The purse for the U.S. Open was $17,500,000 for the 2023 edition.
Last year's winner, Matt Fitzpatrick, claimed $3,150,000 - not bad for a week's work.
This year, the stakes were even higher, and the winner — Wyndham Clark — walked away with $3,600,000!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Qualify for the 2023 U.S. Open?
Qualifying for the U.S. Open is open to professionals and amateurs with a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 1.4. Players need to enter the local qualifying round, where they’ll have to place highly in at least one of the events before moving on to the final qualifying round held across 13 tournaments.
Who Were the Favorites To Win the 2023 U.S. Open?
This year, Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Brooks Koepka were bookies' favorites to win. Last year's winner, Matt Fitzpatrick, was well down the pecking order, with few expecting the Englishman to repeat his success. At the end of the U.S. Open, Wyndham Clark walked away victorious.
Final Thoughts
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