Tournament information | |
---|---|
Dates | June 13–17, 1991 |
Location | Chaska, Minnesota 44°50′02″N 93°35′28″W / 44.834°N 93.591°W |
Course(s) | Hazeltine National Golf Club |
Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
Statistics | |
Par | 72 |
Length | 7,149 yards (6,537 m)[1] |
Field | 156 players, 65 after cut |
Cut | 147 (+3) |
Prize fund | $1.3 million |
Winner's share | $235,000 |
Champion | |
Payne Stewart | |
282 (−6), playoff | |
Location map | |
Location in the United States Location in Minnesota | |
The 1991 U.S. Open was the 91st U.S. Open, held June 13–17 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, a suburb southwest of Minneapolis. Payne Stewart defeated 1987 champion Scott Simpson in an 18-hole Monday playoff to win the first of his two U.S. Open titles.[2] It was the second of Stewart's three major championships.
Stewart held the lead through each of the first three rounds, but in the final round he found himself trailing Simpson by a stroke heading to the 18th. Simpson hit his drive into the rough and could only manage a bogey to Stewart's par, forcing an 18-hole playoff. Both players shot a final-round 72 to finish at 282 total, three shots clear of Larry Nelson and Fred Couples. In the playoff, Simpson led by two-strokes heading to the 16th. He then bogeyed the hole, however, while Stewart made birdie to even up the contest. At the par-3 17th, Simpson found the water on his tee shot and recorded another bogey, giving Stewart a one-shot advantage. Simpson then made bogey on the 18th while Stewart made a par, giving Stewart a two-stroke win and the championship.[3] Stewart's winning score in the playoff of 75 was the highest since Tommy Armour won with a 76 in 1927.[4]
Play was interrupted during the first round due to a severe thunderstorm. Six people were struck by lightning while seeking shelter near the 11th tee, and one person was killed.[5]
It was the final U.S. Open appearance for two-time champion Lee Trevino; Phil Mickelson won low-amateur honors for the second consecutive year, finishing in 55th place.
This was the second U.S. Open at Hazeltine; the first was in 1970. It later hosted the PGA Championship in 2002 and 2009.