U.S. Open winners by year: List of past champions, payouts in golf history

The U.S. Open is considered one of the biggest tests in golf.

While all other major tournaments have had at least one golfer win five or more times, no golfer has won more than four times in the U.S. Open — and it's tough to envision that changing in the immediate future unless either Brooks Koepka or Bryson DeChambeau can surge to two more wins.

Because the U.S. Open tends to be such a challenge, the list of winners is littered with some of the biggest names in the sport's history.

The Sporting News looks at the history of golfers who have won the U.S. Open.

MORE: U.S. Open winners by player: Who has won the most U.S. Opens in golf history?

US Open winners by year

Jack Nicklaus is tied with Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones and Ben Hogan for most U.S. Open wins. The Golden Bear claimed his victories in 1962, 1967, 1972 and 1980.

Woods won in 2000, 2002 and 2008, while Koepka, who could still tie Woods and Hale Irwin for the fifth-most wins with a third, won his titles in 2017 and 2018. DeChambeau added win No. 2 in 2024, four years after his first title.

Here's the all-time list of U.S. Open winners:

* The U.S. Open was cancelled in 1917 and 1918, and from 1942-45, due to war.

MORE: Scottie Scheffler's complete majors timeline

How much does the US Open winner make?

The U.S. Open is the most lucrative major on the PGA Tour. Golfers since 2017 have pocketed at least $2 million for winning it. That figure has doubled in recent years,

In the first U.S. Open in 1895, Horace Rawlins made only $150 for winning (though with inflation, it would obviously be worth more today).

Here's a look at the payouts for each U.S. Open, according to GolfLink.com.

MORE: Bryson DeChambeau's complete majors timeline