Golf Clubs � History of America's Greatest Tournament

In 1743 the first recorded shipment of golf clubs to America was logged and now the US Open is regarded as the toughest tournament in the world.

Tough test

If you look at the golfing pros who have won the US Open it reads like a Who's Who of the sport � winning the US Open guarantees whoever is behind the golf clubs a place in history. Names such as Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer dominate. There has been no harder challenge in the history of world golf � if you win the Open you are instantly a member of an exclusive club � alongside these golfing legends.

History of the Open

But whereas the history of golf clubs such as St Andrews was always assured, the US Open hasn't always been so highly regarded. The history of the Open dates back to 1895 at Rhode Island 's Newport Golf and Country Club. It was the British that dominated the early years of the Open. Not surprising considering the fact the first official records of men swinging golf clubs dates back to 15 th Century Scotland , the game is embedded in the country's history. Scotland 's Willie Anderson won the Open from 1903 to 1905 and it wasn't until 1911 that the first American won the tournament. Like Tiger Woods today, having a national sporting hero fuelled a surge in interest in the game and its popularity in the States quickly grew. History shows that this marked a shift in power from Britain to America as golf clubs' sales increased.

American Influence

Out of all the golf clubs and tournaments there is an undoubtedly American sense of history to the Open Championships. It is dominated by Americans big moments � Palmer's seven-shot charge, Nicklaus winning out of nowhere in 1962 and the multiple victories of American golfing pros.

Out of the Woods

Now Tiger Woods is dominating the game, it seems unlikely the stars and stripes will concede their power. In fact, Woods made history in 2000 when he won the US Open with a dazzling display from his golf clubs. His performance will go down in the history books as his golf clubs smashed several Open records, including the lowest 36-hole total and biggest winning margin.

• The US Open is open to any professional or amateur with a Handicap Index under 1.4.
• 156 players take part.
• There is no lower age limit; the youngest qualifier was a 15 year-old from Hawaii in 2006.
• The winner's prize at the 2006 US Open was $1,225,000.

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