The US Open golf tournament is one of the four major championships in professional golf, renowned for its brutally difficult course setups and demanding conditions.
Held annually since 1895, the US Open has crowned over 130 champions across more than a century of competition. The tournament is conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and rotates among prestigious courses nationwide each year.
This comprehensive guide covers all US Open winners from 1895 through 2025, including record-holders, multiple champions, and how this prestigious major has evolved into golf’s toughest test. The US Open demands precision, resilience, and exceptional skill under pressure.
US Open Golf Winners: Complete Year-by-Year Table (Recent 30 Years)
| Year | Winner | Score | To Par | Prize Money | Course |
| 2025 | Bryson DeChambeau | 278 | -6 | $4,500,000 | Pinehurst |
| 2024 | Rory McIlroy | 280 | -4 | $4,500,000 | Pinehurst |
| 2023 | Wyndham Clark | 283 | -1 | $4,300,000 | Los Angeles |
| 2022 | Matt Fitzpatrick | 285 | -5 | $4,000,000 | Brookline |
| 2021 | Jon Rahm | 278 | -6 | $3,150,000 | Torrey Pines |
| 2020 | Bryson DeChambeau | 279 | -9 | $3,150,000 | Winged Foot |
| 2019 | Gary Woodland | 279 | -9 | $3,150,000 | Pebble Beach |
| 2018 | Brooks Koepka | 281 | -7 | $3,240,000 | Shinnecock |
| 2017 | Brooks Koepka | 280 | -4 | $3,240,000 | Erin Hills |
| 2016 | Dustin Johnson | 276 | -4 | $3,150,000 | Oakmont |
| 2015 | Jordan Spieth | 282 | -2 | $3,150,000 | Chambers Bay |
| 2014 | Martin Kaymer | 271 | -13 | $2,590,000 | Pinehurst |
| 2013 | Justin Rose | 281 | -1 | $2,590,000 | Merion |
| 2012 | Webb Simpson | 281 | -1 | $1,440,000 | Olympic |
| 2011 | Rory McIlroy | 268 | -16 | $1,440,000 | Congressional |
| 2010 | Graeme McDowell | 284 | -4 | $1,440,000 | Pebble Beach |
| 2009 | Lucas Glover | 276 | -4 | $1,440,000 | Bethpage |
| 2008 | Tiger Woods | 283 | -5 | $1,350,000 | Torrey Pines |
| 2007 | Ang Cabrera | 285 | -3 | $1,260,000 | Oakmont |
| 2006 | Geoff Ogilvy | 285 | -3 | $1,260,000 | Winged Foot |
| 2005 | Michael Campbell | 280 | -4 | $1,170,000 | Pinehurst |
| 2004 | Retief Goosen | 276 | -4 | $1,080,000 | Shinnecock |
| 2003 | Jim Furyk | 272 | -8 | $1,000,000 | Olympia Fields |
| 2002 | Tiger Woods | 278 | -6 | $1,000,000 | Bethpage |
| 2001 | Payne Stewart | 279 | -9 | $825,000 | Southern Hills |
| 2000 | Tiger Woods | 272 | -12 | $800,000 | Pebble Beach |
| 1999 | Jose Maria Olazabal | 280 | -4 | $755,000 | Pinehurst |
| 1998 | Lee Janzen | 280 | -4 | $565,000 | The Olympic Club |
| 1997 | Ernie Els | 276 | -4 | $565,000 | Congressional |
| 1996 | Steve Jones | 278 | -6 | $565,000 | Oakland Hills |
Multiple US Open Winners: Elite Champions
Tiger Woods stands among the greatest US Open champions with three major victories. Woods won in 2000, 2002, and 2008, demonstrating exceptional skill across different course conditions and decades.
Hale Irwin claimed four US Open golf titles, the most in tournament history. Irwin’s victories came in 1974, 1979, 1990, and later proved his dominance over nearly two decades of competition.
Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and other legends won multiple times. The achievement of winning the US Open even once represents extraordinary skill, as the USGA famously sets up courses to maximum difficulty.
Most US Open Wins:
- Hale Irwin: 4 wins (1974, 1979, 1990)
- Jack Nicklaus: 4 wins (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980)
- Tiger Woods: 3 wins (2000, 2002, 2008)
- Ben Hogan: 4 wins (1948, 1950, 1951, 1953)
- Gary Player: 1 win (1965)
- Ernie Els: 2 wins (1997, 2002)
The US Open demands more from winners than any other major. Courses are brutally difficult with deep rough, narrow fairways, and lightning-fast greens designed to penalize imprecision.
Scoring Records: The Toughest Challenge in Golf
The US Open golf tournament maintains the highest scoring difficulty among the four major championships. The USGA intentionally prepares courses to reward only the most disciplined and precise players.
Martin Kaymer holds the modern scoring record with a 13-under-par 271 in 2014 at Pinehurst. This remains the lowest 72-hole score in recent US Open history, achieved despite the USGA’s course preparation standards.
Most US Open champions finish near or slightly below par. The course difficulty makes shooting low scores monumentally challenging compared to other tournaments on the PGA Tour.
Prize Money Evolution: From $500 to $4.5 Million
The US Open golf prize purse has expanded dramatically since the tournament began in 1895. When the event started, prize money was minimal by modern standards.
By the 1990s, US Open purses grew substantially. Modern champions now earn millions for claiming this prestigious title. The 2024-2025 winner takes home $4.5 million from the total purse.
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Prize money growth reflects the tournament’s stature as golf’s most brutally difficult major championship.
| Era | Year | Winner’s Share | Course |
| Founding | 1895 | $150 | Newport |
| Mid-Century | 1950 | $2,000 | Merion |
| Growth Era | 1980 | $55,000 | Baltusrol |
| Modern | 2000 | $800,000 | Pebble Beach |
| Premium | 2020 | $3,150,000 | Winged Foot |
| Current | 2025 | $4,500,000 | Pinehurst |
Recent US Open Winners: 2025, 2024, and 2023
Bryson DeChambeau won the 2025 US Open at Pinehurst with a 6-under-par 278. DeChambeau’s victory marked his second US Open title, making him a two-time major champion.
Rory McIlroy finished second in 2025 with a 4-under-par 280. McIlroy has finished as a runner-up multiple times at the US Open, showcasing his elite skill level but also the difficulty of the event.
In 2024, Rory McIlroy won the US Open at Pinehurst with a 4-under-par 280. McIlroy’s victory demonstrated his ability to perform under the USGA’s demanding course conditions and pressure situations.
Wyndham Clark won in 2023 with a 1-under-par 283 at Los Angeles Country Club. Clark’s victory came after strong performances on the international stage throughout his professional career.
Historic Moments: Legendary US Open Champions
Tiger Woods created history with his 2000 US Open victory at Pebble Beach. Woods dominated the field with a 12-under-par 272, one of the greatest performances in US Open history under brutally difficult conditions.
Ben Hogan won four US Open titles, establishing himself as one of golf’s greatest major champions. Hogan’s precision and mental toughness defined the way the US Open should be conquered.
Payne Stewart claimed victory in 2001 with a thrilling 18-hole playoff victory. Stewart’s memorable performance demonstrated the drama and difficulty that defines US Open golf.
Jack Nicklaus won the US Open four times across his legendary career. Nicklaus’s dominance proved he could handle the USGA’s most demanding course setups.
Iconic Courses: Historic Venues of the US Open
The US Open golf rotates among America’s finest and most challenging courses. Pebble Beach hosted the tournament multiple times, creating some of golf’s most memorable moments.
Pinehurst has become a regular US Open venue in recent years. The course’s No. 2 layout, designed by Donald Ross, remains one of America’s greatest championship layouts.
Merion, Oakmont, Shinnecock Hills, and Congressional have all hosted multiple US Open championships. Each course tests different skills and forces champions to demonstrate complete mastery of the game.
Torrey Pines, Bethpage, and Winged Foot have produced dramatic US Open champions in recent decades. The USGA’s selection of venue ensures every US Open presents unique challenges and opportunities for greatness.
FAQs
What is the US Open Golf Tournament?
The US Open is one of four major championships in professional golf, conducted annually by the USGA with courses rotated yearly.
Who won the US Open most?
Hale Irwin and Ben Hogan each won four US Open titles, the most in tournament history across their careers.
How many times has Tiger Woods won the US Open?
Tiger Woods has won the US Open three times in 2000, 2002, and 2008 respectively.
What is the current US Open prize money?
The 2025 US Open champion receives $4.5 million from the total prize purse allocated.
Where will the next US Open be held?
Future US Open venues rotate annually among America’s premier championship courses nationwide.
What makes the US Open so difficult?
The USGA prepares US Open courses with deep rough, narrow fairways, and lightning-fast greens to maximize difficulty.
