The U.S. Senior Open is back on the schedule this year after being canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In fact, it was one of 10 U.S. Golf Association events that were canceled a year ago.
This week, the 41st edition of the Senior Open will take place in Omaha, Nebraska.
A field of 156 golfers will take to the course on Thursday at Omaha Country Club.
The USGA reports that 2,999 golfers filed entries in 2021. That’s the third-most in championship history. The record for entries is 3,101 in 2002.
Here’s a rundown of what you need to know.
Defending champ
Steve Stricker
With his wife Nicki handling caddie duties, Stricker went wire-to-wire in 2019, just the third golfer to do so in the championship. He started the final day with a six-shot lead and then fired a final-round 69 to win by that same margin over Jerry Kelly and 2018 champion David Toms. Stricker won the event in his first attempt. Simon Hobday in 1994 and Olin Browne in 2011 were the others to go wire-to-wire.
About the venue
Omaha Country Club
The course is hosting the U.S. Senior Open for the second time. Kenny Perry won it the last time it was held there in 2013. It’s the seventh course to host twice. Omaha Country Club was established in 1899 and has been at its current location since 1925. The course was redesigned in 1951 and renovated in 2005.
How to watch
Golf Channel (TV) and Peacock (streaming) will tag-team the coverage in 2021. Live TV coverage will go until 8 p.m. ET all four rounds, with the third and final rounds on Golf Channel from 4 to 8 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday.
The most majors?
Bernhard Langer
Langer has 41 wins on the Champions circuit and has won 11 senior majors. He became the all-time leader in 2017 after he won the Senior PGA Championship. Jack Nicklaus is next with eight. Hale Irwin, the all-time leader in senior wins with 45, has seven senior majors.
By the numbers
There are 20 countries represented. The U.S. claims 121 of the 156 golfers. There are 72 golfers playing the event for the first time. There are 34 amateurs in the field, the most since 2012. Jay Haas, who is 67, is the oldest player in the field. Jose Maria Olazabal is playing in his first U.S. Senior Open. He’s in the field on a special invitation.
Senior majors in 2021
This is the fourth of five majors on the senior circuit. Alex Cejka won the Regions Tradition and the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. Stricker won the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship. The final senior major in 2021 will be the Senior Open Championship at the Old Course at Sunningdale in Berkshire, England, July 22-25.
Where does it go from here?
There are four future U.S. Senior Open locations that have been announced:
- 2022 – Saucon Valley Country Club (Old Course), Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- 2023 – SentryWorld, Stevens Point, Wisconsin
- 2024 – Newport Country Club, Newport, Rhode Island
- 2025 – The Broadmoor, East Course, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Newport was supposed to host in 2020.