Beginner’s Guide to the US Open

Your Beginner’s Guide to the US Open 

As one of golf’s four Major championships — alongside The Masters, the PGA Championship, and The Open — the US Open is where history, pressure, and pure skill collide. Whether you’re new to the sport or brushing up before tournament week, this guide will get you up to speed.

Where It All Began (1895) 

The US Open was first played in 1895 at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island. It began as a modest event with just a handful of competitors, but from the start it was designed to be open welcoming both professionals and amateurs who could meet the qualifying standard. 

That spirit continues today. Thousands of hopefuls enter each year, but only 156 players ultimately earn a place in the championship field. It’s one of the most democratic pathways in sport: if you can play well enough, you can get in. 

A Championship on the Move 

It didn’t take long for iconic venues to join the rotation. Just one year after the inaugural event, the championship moved to Shinnecock Hills in 1896, a sign of how quickly the tournament was growing in stature. 

Since then, the US Open has returned to legendary courses time and time again, each hosting its own unforgettable moments and shaping the tournament’s identity. 

Shinnecock Hills: A Cornerstone of US Open History 

Shinnecock Hills is one of the most storied venues in American golf. A course that has shaped the identity of the US Open for more than a century. Founded in 1891 and recognised as one of the five founding clubs of the USGA, Shinnecock quickly earned a reputation for its rugged beauty and strategic brilliance. 

When the USGA selected Shinnecock to host the second US Open in 1896, it signalled the tournament’s ambition to challenge players on the toughest and most thoughtfully designed courses in the country. 

Recent US Open Champions 

The US Open has produced some unforgettable winners in recent years, each conquering a course set up to push players to their limits. Here are the most recent champions: 

• 2025 — Bryson DeChambeau 

• 2024 — Bryson DeChambeau 

• 2023 — Wyndham Clark 

• 2022 — Matt Fitzpatrick 

• 2021 — Jon Rahm 

• 2020 — Bryson DeChambeau 

Looking Ahead to 2026 

With its rich history and reputation for tough, unforgettable golf, the US Open remains one of the sport’s standout events. From June 18–21, 2026, the world’s best will return to Shinnecock Hills, promising four days of drama, tradition, and world‑class competition.