FAR HILLS, N.J. -- More people than ever have signed up for a chance to play in the U.S. Open.
The USGA said Thursday it received a record 10,127 entrants for the U.S. Open, which will be played June 12-15 at Pinehurst No. 2. That breaks the previous mark of 9,860 who entered a year ago.
Among the entries were 51 players exempt from qualifying. That includes 12 former U.S. Open champions, such as defending champion Justin Rose and Tiger Woods.
Woods is recovering from back surgery and has said only that he hopes to return to golf this summer.
Local qualifying (18 holes) starts May 2 at 111 sites across the country, and 36-hole sectional qualifying will be June 2. There will be two sectional qualifiers May 26 in England and Japan.