Most U.S. Open Appearances and Consecutive Starts

Which golfers have played in the U.S. Open most often? Which ones played in this major championship the most years consecutively? Those are the U.S. Open records we examine below.

In both cases — the record for most overall starts in the U.S. Open, and for most consecutive starts in the tournament — the record-holder is the same: Jack Nicklaus. And not only does Nicklaus hold both of these records, he holds them by a wide margin.

Nicklaus played the U.S. Open 44 times, 10 times more than anyone else. He made 12 more U.S. Open starts than Arnold Palmer did, and 15 more than Gary Player. And those 44 starts by Nicklaus were consecutive — from his first appearance in the 1957 U.S. Open through his last in the 2000 U.S. Open, Nicklaus never missed this tournament. In consecutive starts, Nicklaus' 44 are 11 more than any other golfer.

Most Total Times Playing in U.S. Open

These are the all the golfers so far who played the U.S. Open more than 25 times:

• 44 — Jack Nicklaus, first in 1957, last in 2000, won four times
• 34 — Hale Irwin, first in 1966, last in 2003, three wins
• 34 — Phil Mickelson, first in 1990, last in 2025, no wins
• 33 — Tom Kite, first in 1970, last in 2004, one win
• 33 — Gene Sarazen, first in 1920, last in 1958, two wins
• 32 — Arnold Palmer, first in 1953, last in 1994, one win
• 31 — Raymond Floyd, first in 1964, last in 2004, one win
• 31 — Sam Snead, first in 1937, last in 1977, no wins
• 31 — Tom Watson, first in 1972, last in 2010, one win
• 29 — Gary Player, first in 1958, last in 1989, one win
• 27 — Ernie Els, first in 1993, last in 2019, two wins
• 27 — Jay Haas, first in 1974, last in 2006, no wins
• 26 — Julius Boros, first in 1950, last in 1977, two wins
• 26 — Jim Furyk, first in 1994, last in 2022, one win
• 26 — Ben Crenshaw, first in 1970, last in 1999, no wins

Fifteen players so far have played in more than 25 U.S. Opens, and of those 15, only four failed to win the tournament: Mickelson, Snead, Haas and Crenshaw. Mickelson did finish second a record six times, and Snead was runner-up four times.

Most Consecutive Years Playing in U.S. Open

• 44 years — Jack Nicklaus (1957-2000)
• 33 years — Hale Irwin (1971-2003)
• 33 years — Gene Sarazen* (1920-1958)
• 31 years — Tom Kite (1974-2004)
• 31 years — Arnold Palmer (1953-1983)
• 29 years — Tom Watson (1972-2000)
• 27 years — Ernie Els (1993-2019)
• 27 years — Gary Player (1958-1984)

(Sarazen's stretch includes some years during World War II when the U.S. Open was not played.)

Related articles:

• Most Top 10 finishes in the U.S. Open
• Largest margins of victory in U.S. Open
• More U.S. Open tournament records

Sources:
United States Golf Association. U.S. Open Championship 126th Record Book, 2026, All-Time Records.