Amateur Winners, Tournament Records at U.S. Open

Who are the best amateur performers in the history of the U.S. Open golf championship? Well, the best is Bobby Jones (pictured), given that he won four times. We'll take a look here at all the amateurs who've won a U.S. Open, plus a few other U.S. Open tournament records relating to amateur golfers.

Related: Every golfer who has been low amateur in a U.S. Open

Amateurs Who Won the U.S. Open

Five amateur golfers have won a U.S. Open — four of them once each, plus Jones' four victories. But no amateur has won since Johnny Goodman in 1933.

• Francis Ouimet, 1913 U.S. Open at The Country Club, Brookline, Mass.
• Jerry Travers, 1915 U.S. Open at Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, N.J.
• Chick Evans, 1916 U.S. Open at Minikahda Club, Minneapolis, Minn.
• Bobby Jones, 1923 (Inwood Country Club, New York), 1926 (Scioto Country Club, Columbus, Ohio); 1929 (Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, N.Y.) and 1930 (Interlachen Country Club, Edina, Minn.)
• Johnny Goodman, 1933 U.S. Open at North Shore Country Club, Glenview, Ill.

Two of Jones' wins were via playoff, but Jones also lost twice in U.S. Open playoffs. Fun historical note: Jack Nicklaus' father was in the crowd watching Jones during his 1926 victory at Scioto. The first U.S. Open winner, Ouimet, also won via playoff.

U.S. Open Tournament Records for Amateurs

Most Times Low Amateur

• Bobby Jones, 9
• Chick Evans, 5
• Walter Travis, 4
• Johnny Goodman, 3

Most Top 10 Finishes by an Amateur

• Bobby Jones, 10
• Chick Evans, 5
• Walter Travis, 3

Lowest 18-Hole Score by an Amateur

Only three amateurs in tournament history have carded rounds below 66:

• 65 (6-under), Jim McHale, third round, St. Louis Country Club, Clayton, Mo., 1947 U.S. Open
• 65 (5-under), Jim Simons, third round, Merion Golf Club (East Course), Ardmore, Pa., 1971 U.S. Open
• 65 (5-under), Nick Taylor, second round, Bethpage State Park (Black Course), Farmingdale, N.Y., 2009 U.S. Open

And Johnny Goodman, during his 1933 victory, was the first amateur to go below 67, shooting 66 in the second round that year.

Lowest 72-Hole Score by an Amateur

Jack Nicklaus held this record for nearly 60 years before it was finally broken in 2019.

• 280, Viktor Hovland, Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links, 2019 U.S. Open
• 282, Jack Nicklaus, Cherry Hills Country Club, Englewood, Colo., 1960 U.S. Open
• 283, James Simons, Merion Golf Club (East Course), Ardmore, Pa., 1971 U.S. Open

Related article:

• Amateur winners in golf majors and best finishes since