EVENTS

A history of the four U.S. Opens previously played at Shinnecock Hills

Published on

For the fifth time in its history dating back to 1892, famed Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., will play host to the 117th playing of the U.S. Open, June 14-17, 2018.

Shinnecock is known for its brute. As is always the case when the U.S. Open is there, the fescue will be long and penal and the greens will be lightning quick.

Here's a look back at what happened in the four previous U.S. Opens held at the links-style gem.

1896

Shinnecock Hills boasts history like few courses in the country can. It hosted the second U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur ever played back in 1896.

That year, James Foulis -- a Scottish-American -- won after finishing in a tie for third a year earlier at Rhode Island's Newport Country Club in the inaugural U.S. Open.

RELATED: Here's what would have happened if every U.S. Open playoff had been two holes

Foulis had a three-stroke victory over England's Horace Rawlins, with 152 strokes in what was then a 36-hole, stroke-play tournament with 35 entrants. Foulis collected a winner's share of $150.

At 4,423 yards in 1896, Shinnecock Hills played as the shortest course in U.S. Open history. Its next U.S. Open was 90 years later, in 1986. By then, the course had been lengthened to 6,912 yards. For the 2018 U.S. Open, it will play at 7,445 yards as a par 70.

1986

The U.S. Open didn't return to Shinnecock Hills until 1986 for the 86th U.S. Open.

That year, Raymond Floyd won his fourth and final major, finishing two strokes clear of runners up Chip Beck and Lanny Wadkins.

Floyd began the final round trailing leader Greg Norman by three strokes. In Sunday's final round, Floyd rallied with a 4-under 66 for the win. Norman blew up with a 5-over 75 to finish T12.

For the win, Floyd took home $115,000. 

With the victory, Floyd became the U.S. Open's oldest winner at 43 years, 9 months, 11 days. He would hold that distinction for four years until Hale Irwin won in 1990 at Medinah, at 45 years, 15 days old.

RELATED: How much you pocket for winning the U.S. Open

1995

Greg Norman was in perfect position to rebound from his tough loss at Shinnecock nine years earlier when he shared the lead at 1 under with Tom Lehman going into the final round of the 1995 U.S. Open. 

But, again, it wasn't to be for the Shark.

A feisty Corey Pavin rallied on the back nine and hit a 4-wood for the ages on the final hole to finish off a brilliant 2-under 68 to finish the tournament at even par, two strokes ahead of Norman. 

Pavin's winning share was $350,000.

2004

In the last U.S. Open played at Shinnecock Hills before 2018, South Africa's Retief Goosen came out on top, prevailing by two strokes over Phil Mickelson with a final total of 4-under 276.

The win was the second U.S. Open title for Goosen, who also won in 2001 at Southern Hills in Tulsa. 

The final round of the 2004 U.S. Open was played in brutal conditions with not a single player under par. The final-round scoring average was a crazy 78.7.

For the victory, Goosen hauled in $1,125,000.