Power Rankings: U.S. Senior Open Championship
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The 42nd United States Senior Open Championship returns for a third time to the Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. For the 90th time the USGA will be staging a championship in the Keystone State. No state has hosted more USGA championship events as California is second with 85.
Herbert Strong's Old Course (Par 71, 7,208 yards) turns 100 years old this year and the reward is hosting the US Senior Open for a record setting third time. The 1992 edition vaulted Larry Laoretti to the winner's circle while PGA TOUR Champions legend Hale Irwin picked up his second US Senior Open in three years winning the trophy during the last visit in 2000.
A full field of 156 players tees it up at the Old Course Thursday thru Sunday. The top 60 and ties will play the final two rounds. Last year a purse of $4 million saw winner Jim Furyk take home $720,000.
POWER RANKINGS
| RANK | PLAYER | COMMENT | ||
Just Missed: Stephen Ames, Brandt Jobe, David Toms, Colin Montgomerie, Robert Karlsson.
Fred Couples has withdrawn.
Saucon Valley CC - Old Course
| Yards (per official scorecard): | 7,028 |
| Par: | 71 (36-35) |
| Greens: | Bentgrass; 6,000 square feet on average. |
| Stimpmeter: | 12.5 feet. |
| Rough: | Kentucky Bluegrass at 3 inches. |
| Bunkers/Water Hazards | 87/6 (water in play on 5 holes). |
| Architect(s): | Herbert Strong (1922); Perry Maxwell; Tom Fazio Group (2008) last. |
| Defending Champion: | Jim Furyk |
| Tournament Course Record (last): | 64; Bruce Fleisher, 2000. |
| Tournament Scoring Record (course): | 201; Hale Irwin (-17), 2000. |
| Lowest Round US Senior Open (last): | 62; Five times. Steve Stricker, David Toms 2019. |
| Lowest Tournament Score - Event: | 261; Steve Stricker, 2019. |
| Lowest Tournament Score to Par - Event: | 20-under; Fred Funk, 2009. |
| Oldest Winners: | 57; Roberto DiVincenzo, Allen Doyle. |
| Youngest Winners: | 50; Dale Douglass, Lee Trevino and Peter Jacobsen. |
| Qualifier: | Don Pooley, 2009. |
| Wire to Wire (no ties): | Dale Douglass, 1986. |
| Multiple Champions: | 3, Miller Barber; 2, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Hale Irwin, Allen Doyle and Kenny Perry. None entered this week. |
| Repeat Champions: | None. |
| First Time - Event: | 11 all time; Last two winners (Furyk, Stricker). |
As with the US Open last week, every club in the bag will be required this week.
Laoretti posted 9-under in 1992 as he won by four with only 13 players posting red numbers.
Irwin's record setting 17-under gave the appearance that this track was gettable in 2000.
| Course Rankings | Yards | Scoring Average |
| 2000: Hardest on TOUR | 6,749 | 74.099 |
| 1992: 2nd hardest | 6,700 | 74.714 |
Nope. Only 18 players broke par as Irwin won by three.
The former working farm has tight driving conditions with three inches of rough for the inaccurate drives and approaches. Larger greens could mean more GIR but slick Bentgrass adds lag putting to the equation. With greens approaching almost 13 feet on the Stimpmeter the test will be from tee to flagstick and all points in between on the classic parkland setting.
The stock Par-71 will play 36-35 with all three Par-5 holes being completed by Hole No. 12 on the weekend. All three stretch 555 yards or better including 615 yards for No. 12. A two tee start welcomes the full field Thursday and Friday.
Temperatures to start the week in the 70s accelerate into the mid to upper 80s over the four days of the tournament. The wind won't factor and as of Monday night the best chance of rain is Sunday but it's less than 40 percent.
Last Week - American Family Insurance
| Rank | Player | Finish |
| 10 | Jay Haas | T61 |
| 9 | Kirk Triplett | T3 |
| 8 | Retief Goosen | T35 |
| 7 | Fred Couples | T42 |
| 6 | Brandt Jobe | T42 |
| 5 | Steve Flesch | T11 |
| 4 | Paul Goydos | T8 |
| 3 | Bernhard Langer | T35 |
| 2 | Steve Stricker | T11 |
| 1 | Jerry Kelly | T3 |
Just Missed: Ken Tanigawa - T31, Stuart Appleby - T54, Thongchai Jaidee - WINNER
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