U.S. Open Records: Tournament Bests and Mosts
The U.S. Open is the second-oldest major championship in men's golf, and the oldest of the three United States-based majors. It was first played in 1895. That's a long history, and many golfers have made their mark on that history.
But which of those golfers set tournament records? Which golfers have put their names into the U.S. Open record book? The ones that follow.
All-Time Bests in the U.S. Open
If a record's category (such as "Most Wins") appears as a link, you can click that link to go more in-depth and read more about it, including other top performers in that category.
- Most wins — 4 by Willie Anderson (1901, 1903, 1904, 1905), Bobby Jones (1923, 1926, 1929, 1930), Ben Hogan (1948, 1950, 1951, 1953) and Jack Nicklaus (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980)
- Most times runner-up — 6, Phil Mickelson (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013)
- Largest margin of victory — 15 strokes by Tiger Woods in 2000
- Biggest final-round comeback — 7 strokes by Arnold Palmer in 1960
- Largest 54-hole lead lost — 5 strokes, Mike Brady, 1919 (lost in playoff)
- Youngest winner — Johnny McDermott, 19 years, 10 months, 14 days old, 1911
- Oldest winner — Hale Irwin, 45 years, 15 days old, 1990
- Lowest winning total — 268, Rory McIlroy, 2011
- Highest winning total — All-time, 331, Willie Anderson, 1901; since 1946, 293, Julius Boros, 1963
- Low 72 holes by an amateur — 280, Viktor Hovland, 2019 (he tied for 12th)
- Most strokes under par — 16-under by Rory McIlroy, 2011; and Brooks Koepka, 2017
- Low 18 holes — 62 by Rickie Fowler, 2023; and Xander Schauffele, 2023
- Low 18 holes by an amateur — 65 by James McHale in 1947; James Simons in 1971; Nick Taylor in 2009
- Low 9 holes — 29 by Neal Lancaster, 1995; by Lancaster again in 1996; Vijay Singh, 2003; Louis Oosthuizen, 2015; Tom Kim, 2023; Keith Mitchell, 2026
- Best score, first 36 holes — 130, by Martin Kaymer, 2014; and Rickie Fowler, 2023
- Largest lead after 36 holes: 6 strokes, by Tiger Woods, 2000; Rory McIlroy, 2011; Martin Kaymer, 2014
- Best score, first 54 holes — 199, Rory McIlroy, 2011
- Best score, last 36 holes: Larry Nelson, 132, 1983
- Highest score, one hole — 19, Ray Ainsley, 1938
- Most consecutive birdies — 6 by George Burns in 1982 (starting on No. 2); by Andy Dillard in 1992 (starting on No. 1); by Adam Hadwin in 2017 (starting on No. 18, split-tee tee times)
- Most sub-par rounds — 38, Jack Nicklaus
- Most rounds in the 60s — 30, Jack Nicklaus
- Most U.S. Opens completed — 35, Jack Nicklaus
- Most consecutive U.S. Opens completed — 22 by Walter Hagen (1913-1936, not played 1917-18) and Gene Sarazen (1920-41)
- Youngest to make cut (since 1946): Beau Hossler, 2012, 17 years, 3 months old
- Oldest to make cut: Sam Snead, 1973, age 61
- Most Top 5 finishes — 11, Willie Anderson and Jack Nicklaus
- Most consecutive Top 5 finishes — 6, Willie Anderson (1901-06) and Bobby Jones (1921-26)
- Most Top 10 finishes — 18, Jack Nicklaus
- Most consecutive Top 10 finishes — 7, Stewart Gardner (1900-06), Bobby Jones (1920-26) and Ben Hogan (1950-56)
- Most Top 25 finishes — 22, Jack Nicklaus
- Most U.S. Opens played — 44, Jack Nicklaus (1957-2000)
- Most consecutive U.S. Opens played — 44, Jack Nicklaus (1957-2000)
- Longest span between wins — 11 years, Julius Boros (1952, 1963) and Hale Irwin (1979, 1990)
- Longest span between first and last wins — 18 years, Jack Nicklaus (1962-1980)
