US Open Golf Winners | The Complete Championship History

The US Open Golf Championship is not just another tournament on the calendar — it is where golfing legends are forged under pressure, records are broken on the toughest courses in America, and only the most disciplined players walk away as champions. Every summer, the world’s elite golfers battle narrow fairways, brutal rough, and lightning-fast greens, all chasing one of sport’s most coveted prizes: the US Open Championship Cup.

Whether you follow every shot of every round or you are just beginning to explore the world of professional golf, this complete guide to US Open Golf winners has everything you need — from the very first champion in 1895 to the most recent major heroes of the modern era, including the remarkable women who have defined excellence in their own right.

What Is the US Open Golf Championship?

The US Open Golf Championship stands among the four major championships in professional golf and is widely regarded as the sport’s most demanding annual test. Organized by the United States Golf Association (USGA), the championship has run without interruption since its debut in 1895 — pausing only during World War I (1917–1918) and World War II (1942–1945).

Held each year as the third major on the calendar, the US Open has built its identity around difficulty. Four-inch rough swallows errant drives. Narrow fairways punish anything less than pinpoint accuracy off the tee. Greens run so fast that a misread putt can turn a birdie chance into a bogey. These conditions are not accidental — the USGA designs them intentionally, ensuring that par is a genuine achievement rather than a starting point.

Winning this championship carries rewards that extend well beyond the trophy. A US Open title earns the champion automatic invitations to all four major championships for five years, a ten-year exemption into the US Open itself, and five years of PGA Tour membership. It also delivers something no exemption can quantify: a permanent place in golf history.

US Open Golf Winners List: Modern Era Champions (2010–2026)

The modern era of the US Open has produced thrilling finishes, dominant performances, and a handful of back-to-back champions. The table below captures every US Open Golf Championship winner from 2010 through 2026:

2026 US Open Highlight

Wyndham Clark delivered one of the most commanding performances in recent major history at Shinnecock Hills, leading wire-to-wire and closing with a final score of 276 (-4) to claim his second US Open title. His victory came at the expense of Sam Burns, who pushed hard down the stretch but could not close the gap. Clark’s final tally tied Retief Goosen’s record for the lowest score ever posted at Shinnecock Hills in a major championship.

The 2011 Record That Still Stands

Rory McIlroy’s 2011 performance at Congressional Country Club remains the benchmark for US Open scoring. His 72-hole total of 268 (-16) is the lowest aggregate score in the championship’s entire history — a record shared in terms of score relative to par with Brooks Koepka, who also finished at -16 in 2019 at Pebble Beach.

Past US Open Golf Winners | The Golden Era (1960–2009)

The second half of the twentieth century belongs to a generation of players whose names remain synonymous with greatness. These past US Open Golf winners did not just win championships — they redefined what it meant to compete at the highest level:

Tiger Woods captured three US Open titles across three different decades (2000, 2002, 2008), with each victory carrying its own story. His 2000 win at Pebble Beach — where he finished 15 strokes ahead of the field — remains one of the most dominant single-tournament performances in the history of professional golf.

Jack Nicklaus won four US Opens in 1962, 1967, 1972, and 1980, and started 44 consecutive editions of the championship from 1957 through 2000. No player in history has combined that level of longevity with that degree of success.

US Open Golf Championship Winners: The All-Time Greats

Across more than a century of competition, only a small group of players have managed to win the US Open multiple times. Among those, four men stand alone at the top of the all-time list.

Four-Time Champions — The Record Holders

Four golfers share the distinction of winning the US Open Golf Championship four times — a record that has stood for decades and shows no sign of falling anytime soon:

• Willie Anderson — 1901, 1903, 1904, 1905
• Bobby Jones — 1923, 1926, 1929, 1930
• Ben Hogan — 1948, 1950, 1951, 1953
• Jack Nicklaus — 1962, 1967, 1972, 1980

Willie Anderson’s three consecutive titles from 1903 to 1905 remain one of the most extraordinary streaks in major championship golf. Bobby Jones achieved all four of his US Open victories as an amateur — a detail that makes his record almost impossible to put into proper context. Ben Hogan’s 1950 triumph came just one year after a near-fatal automobile accident, making it one of sport’s most compelling comeback stories. Jack Nicklaus brought an unmatched consistency to the championship over four decades, raising the standard of what sustained excellence looks like.

Wire-to-Wire US Open Champions

Leading a US Open from the opening round through to the final hole requires a rare combination of nerves, stamina, and precision. The full list of wire-to-wire US Open champions includes Walter Hagen (1914), Jim Barnes (1921), Ben Hogan (1953), Tony Jacklin (1970), Tiger Woods (2000 and 2002), Rory McIlroy (2011), Martin Kaymer (2014), and, most recently, Wyndham Clark (2026).

Youngest US Open Champion

John McDermott became the youngest man ever to win the US Open when he claimed the title in 1911 at just 19 years, 10 months, and 14 days old. More than a century later, his record remains untouched.

Golf US Women’s Open Winners: Celebrating the Champions of the Women’s Game

The Golf US Women’s Open is the most prestigious title in women’s professional golf. Organized by the USGA since 1953, it serves as the crown jewel of the LPGA Tour’s five major championships and has produced its own extraordinary list of champions since 1946.

About the US Women’s Open

The inaugural US Women’s Open in 1946 was played as a match-play event — the only time that format was ever used. The championship switched to 72-hole stroke play in 1947 and has maintained that format ever since. Originally administered by the Women’s Professional Golf Association and later the LPGA Tour, the USGA assumed control in 1953 and has run the event ever since.

In 2022, the USGA doubled the prize purse to $10 million, a landmark moment that signaled the growing global prestige of the women’s championship.

US Women’s Open Record Holders

Two players share the record for the most US Women’s Open titles, each winning the championship four times:

• Betsy Rawls — 1951, 1953, 1957, 1960
• Mickey Wright — 1958, 1959, 1961, 1964

Mickey Wright’s back-to-back victories in 1958 and 1959, followed by another win in 1961, reflect a level of dominance rarely seen in any major championship era. Other notable multiple winners in the women’s championship include:

• Babe Didrikson Zaharias — 3 titles
• Annika Sörenstam — 3 titles
• Hollis Stacy — 3 titles
• Susie Berning — 3 titles
• Karrie Webb — 2 titles (2000, 2001 — consecutive)
• Patty Sheehan — 2 titles (1992, 1994)
• Juli Inkster — 2 titles (1999, 2002)
• Meg Mallon — 2 titles (1991, 2004)

Recent US Women’s Open Golf Winners

2025 Champion: Sweden’s Maja Stark claimed the 80th US Women’s Open title with a two-stroke victory over world number one Nelly Korda and Rio Takeda. It was Stark’s first major championship win — and a performance that announced her as one of women’s golf’s most compelling new stars.

What Makes the US Open Different from Other Majors?

Every major has its identity. The Masters has its tradition. The Open Championship has its links drama. But the US Open has something uniquely its own — a reputation as the sport’s hardest test, built deliberately by the USGA year after year.

Here is what sets the US Open apart from every other major on the schedule:

Intentionally Difficult Course Setup

The USGA prepares courses with rough that typically reaches four inches, fairways so narrow that even slight misses are punished, and greens that run at speeds most players rarely encounter outside of this championship. Par is a target at the US Open — not a floor.

Rotating Venues

The championship travels annually through some of America’s most iconic and demanding golf courses, including Pebble Beach, Shinnecock Hills, Oakmont Country Club, and Winged Foot. Each venue brings its own character, but all share the same reputation for difficulty.

Open Qualifying

Unlike other majors where entry is largely determined by rankings and invitations, the US Open maintains a genuinely open qualifying system. Any professional or amateur golfer carrying a USGA Handicap Index of 1.4 or below can attempt to earn a spot. It is a tradition that sets the championship apart and keeps it true to its name.

Unmatched Prestige

Winning the US Open does not just add a line to a player’s resume — it changes their career narrative. The combination of difficulty, history, and open competition means that every US Open champion has earned their title in the truest possible sense.

Key Records and Milestones in US Open History

Here is a quick-reference summary of the most significant records across both the men’s and women’s US Open championships:

• Most Men’s Titles: 4 — Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus
• Most Women’s Titles: 4 — Betsy Rawls, Mickey Wright
• Lowest Men’s Aggregate Score: 268 (-16) — Rory McIlroy, Congressional CC, 2011
• Lowest Score to Par (Men): -16 — Rory McIlroy (2011) and Brooks Koepka (2019)
• Youngest Men’s Champion: John McDermott, age 19, 1911
• Most Consecutive US Opens Started: 44 — Jack Nicklaus (1957–2000)
• Wire-to-Wire Victories: 9 occasions in total, most recently Wyndham Clark (2026)
• Most Consecutive Women’s Titles: Mickey Wright — 1958, 1959

Frequently Asked Questions About US Open Golf Winners

Who has won the most US Open Golf titles?

Four players share the men’s record with four victories each: Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus. In the women’s championship, Betsy Rawls and Mickey Wright each hold four titles.

Who won the 2026 US Open Golf Championship?

Wyndham Clark won the 2026 US Open at Shinnecock Hills, posting a final score of 276 (-4) to claim his second US Open title with a wire-to-wire victory over Sam Burns.

Who won the 2025 US Open Golf Championship?

J.J. Spaun claimed the 2025 men’s US Open title at Oakmont Country Club, finishing at -2. On the women’s side, Maja Stark of Sweden won the 2025 US Women’s Open.

When did the US Open Golf Championship begin?

The US Open was first played in 1895. Horace Rawlins won the inaugural championship and set the foundation for what would become golf’s most demanding major.

What is the lowest score ever recorded at the US Open?

Rory McIlroy set the record with a 72-hole aggregate of 268 (-16) at Congressional Country Club in 2011 — a mark that still stands today.

Is the US Women’s Open part of the LPGA Tour?

Yes. The US Women’s Open is one of five major championships on the LPGA Tour and is widely regarded as the most prestigious of them all.

Final Thoughts

From Horace Rawlins lifting the first trophy in 1895 to Wyndham Clark’s wire-to-wire masterclass at Shinnecock Hills in 2026, the story of US Open Golf winners stretches across more than a century of competitive excellence. The men’s championship has crowned legends like Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy. The women’s game has celebrated icons like Betsy Rawls, Mickey Wright, Annika Sörenstam, and most recently, Maja Stark.

What unites every name on the US Open Golf winners list is simple: each one conquered golf’s most demanding test when it mattered most. That is what makes the US Open the championship it is — and what makes every champion’s name worth knowing.