46th U.S Senior Open Championship: Notebook, Storylines

HISTORY

The inaugural U.S. Senior Open, played in 1980, was conducted for golfers 55 and older. The next year, the USGA lowered the minimum age to 50 to match the Senior Tour’s age requirement. Arnold Palmer, who had just turned 50, won the 1981 championship.

Miller Barber captured the first of his three U.S. Senior Open titles in 1982 – he also won in 1984 and 1985. The U.S. Senior Open has six two-time champions: Gary Player (1987, 1988), Jack Nicklaus (1991, 1993), Hale Irwin (1998, 2000), Allen Doyle (2005, 2006), Kenny Perry (2013, 2017), Bernhard Langer (2010, 2023) and Padraig Harrington (2022, 2025).  

Doyle became the championship’s oldest winner in 2006 at 57 years, 11 months, 14 days, until he was surpassed by Langer (65 years, 10 months, 6 days) in 2023. 

The youngest champion is Dale Douglass, who won in 1986 at 50 years, 3 months, 24 days.

CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD

The USGA accepted 2,780 entries for the 2026 U.S. Senior Open. Entries were accepted for the 2026 championship from golfers in 49 U.S. states, including 118 from host state Ohio, as well as the District of Columbia and 38 foreign countries. 

The 156-player field includes 88 fully exempt golfers, eight of whom are U.S. Senior Open champions. For the remaining spots in the field, two-stage qualifying was held for just the second time in championship history. Local qualifying, conducted over 18 holes at 32 sites in 25 U.S. states, took place from April 2-May 7. The players who advanced joined a group of locally exempt players in final qualifying, which was also conducted over 18 holes at 12 sites across the U.S., from May 18-June 15. 

WHO’S HERE

Among the 156 golfers in the 2026 U.S. Senior Open field, there are:

U.S. Senior Open champions (6): Olin Browne (2011), Padraig Harrington (2022, 2025), Jeff Maggert (2015), Colin Montgomerie (2014), Gene Sauers (2016) and David Toms (2018) 

U.S. Senior Open runners-up (10): Stewart Cink (2025), Retief Goosen (2021), Miguel Angel Jimenez (2016, ‘18), Jerry Kelly (2018, ‘19), Colin Montgomerie (2015), Tim Petrovic (2018), David Toms (2019), Gene Sauers (2014), Kirk Triplett (2017) and Mike Weir (2021). 

U.S. Open champions (5): Angel Cabrera (2007), Michael Campbell (2005), Ernie Els (1994, ’97), Retief Goosen (2001, ’04) and Lee Janzen (1993, ’98) 

U.S. Open runners-up (4): Ernie Els (2000), Miguel Angel Jimenez (2000), Davis Love III (1996) and Colin Montgomerie (1994, ‘97, 2006) 

U.S. Amateur champions (3): Hank Kuehne (1998), Justin Leonard (1992) and Scott Verplank (1984) 

U.S. Junior Amateur champions (1): Brett Quigley (1987) 

U.S. Senior Amateur champions (3): a- Doug Hanzel (2013), a-Michael McCoy (2025) and a-Bob Royak (2019) 

U.S. Senior Amateur runners-up (2): a-Doug Hanzel (2022), Greg Sanders (2025) 

USGA champions (18): Olin Browne (2011 U.S. Senior Open), Angel Cabrera (2007 U.S. Open), Michael Campbell (2005 U.S. Open), Ernie Els (1994, ’97 U.S. Open), Retief Goosen (2001, ’04 U.S. Open), Doug Hanzel (2013 U.S. Senior Amateur), Padraig Harrington (2025, ‘22 U.S. Senior Open), Lee Janzen (1993, ’98 U.S. Open), Hank Kuehne (‘98 U.S. Am), Justin Leonard (1992 U.S. Amateur), Michael McCoy (2025 U.S. Senior Amateur, 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur),  Jeff Maggert (2015 U.S. Senior Open), Colin Montgomerie (2014 U.S. Senior Open), Brett Quigley (1987 U.S. Junior Amateur), Bob Royak (2019 U.S. Senior Amateur), Gene Sauers (2016 U.S. Senior Open), David Toms (2018 U.S. Senior Open) and Scott Verplank (1984 U.S. Amateur) 

World Golf Hall of Famers (6): Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Padraig Harrington, Davis Love III, Colin Montgomerie, Vijay Singh 
 
Walker Cup Team Members: 

United States (9): Billy Andrade (1987), Notah Begay III (1995), Brian Gay (1993), Jay Haas (1975), Justin Leonard (1993), Davis Love III (1985), Mike McCoy (2015, Captain - 2023), Chris Riley (1995) and Scott Verplank (1985) 

Great Britain & Ireland (5): Peter Baker (1985), Stephen Dodd (1989), Padraig Harrington (1991, ’93, ’95), Colin Montgomerie (1985, ’87) and Van Phillips (1993) 

Total U.S. Senior Opens Won by 2026 Championship Field (7): Olin Browne (1), Padraig Harrington (2), Jeff Maggert (1), Colin Montgomerie (1), Gene Sauers (1) and David Toms (1) 

Players in the field with the most U.S. Senior Open Appearances (2026 Included): Jay Haas (19), Olin Browne (15), Kirk Triplett (14), Mark Calcavecchia (13) 

Actvie Consecutive U.S. Senior Open Appearances (2026 Included: Kirk Triplett (14) 

Players from Ohio (4): Ryan Armour, Rik Cramer, Bob Rittberger and Paul Wackerly 

OLDEST & YOUNGEST

Jay Haas is the oldest player in the field at the age of 72. This year, Haas will look to extend his incredible U.S. Senior Open streak to 19 cuts made in 19 appearances (currently 18/18). The North Carolinian won the 1975 NCAA Division I individual title at Wake Forest before claiming 33 professional victories (9 PGA Tour). Haas also played on three U.S. Ryder Cup and two Presidents Cup Teams -- captaining the 2015 Presidents Cup Team with his son, Bill, as a member.  

The youngest player in the field is Chris Dompier, who was the 156th player added to the field on June 28 when the winner of the Dick's Sporting Goods Open (Dicky Pride) was already previously exempt into the field. Dompier won a 3-for-1 playoff at the Country Club of Colorado for the first alternate spot. He also advanced out of local qualifying at MountainView Golf Club, in Tucson, Ariz. Dompier is the director of golf at Skyline Country Club, in Tucson. He has been at the facility for more than two decades. In 2010, Dompier won the Southwest PGA Match Play title. Dompier has been honored by the Southwest PGA Section for his outstanding work with junior golfers.

FIELD FOR THE AGES

12 players in the 2026 U.S. Senior Open field have celebrated their 50th birthday since January. Henrik Stenson turned 50 on April 5. The Swedish professional owns a major victory at the 2016 Open Championship at Royal Troon, where he bested Phil Mickelson to win. Stenson also won the 2009 Players Championship and 2013 Tour Championship at East Lake. He has represented Europe in five Ryder Cups, and he competed for Sweden in the 1998 World Amateur Team Championship. 

There are 30 players in the field who are 60 or older. Olin Browne (2011), Colin Montgomerie (2014), Jeff Maggert (2015) and Gene Sauers (2016) are U.S. Senior Open champions.  

The average age of the 156-player field is 55.90 years 

INTERNATIONAL GROUP

There are 19 countries represented in the 2026 U.S. Senior Open. The USA has 103 players in the field, while Australia has 10 and England has seven. 

Countries With Players in the Field: Argentina (2), Australia (10), Canada (3), Denmark (1), England (7), Fiji (1), Germany (2), Ireland (1), Japan (2), New Zealand (2), Northern Ireland (1), Republic of Korea (3), Scotland (2), South Africa (5), Spain (1), Sweden (6), Thailand (2), United States of America (103) and Wales (2) 

FIRST TIME IN U.S. SENIOR OPEN COMPETITORS (50)

Jay Abraham, Ryan Armour, Scott Berliner, Michael Block, Jonathan Clark, Rik Cramer, Ben Crane, Matt Daniel, Chris Dompier, Jamie Donaldson, David Drysdale, Chris Eassy, Brock Ehler, Darren Fichardt, Caine Fitzgerald, Artie Fink, Chad Fribley, Tommy Gainey, Ryan Gracey, Brian Guetz, Justin Hicks, Takashi Iwamoto, Chris Kamin, John Kennedy, Hyeong Kim, Hank Kuehne, Bradford Kuester, David Mathis, George McNeill, Stephen Nichols, David Noto, John O’Leary, Tim O’Neal, Michael Pearson, Pat Perez, Warren Pineo, Ian Poulter, Bob Rittberger,  David Roesch, John Rollins, Greg Sanders, Stephen Sear, Haymes Snedeker, Thammanoon Sriroj, Michael Stamberger, Henrik Stenson, Jerod Turner, Tracy Vest, Paul Wackerly and Mark Wilson  

QUALIFYING HISTORY   

For the second consecutive year, the U.S. Senior Open featured a qualifying framework that is comparable to the U.S. Open, with two stages split into local and final sites. Local qualifying was conducted over 18 holes at 32 sites in 25 U.S. states and took place from April 2-May 7. The players who advanced joined a group of locally exempt players in final qualifying, which was conducted over 18 holes. This final stage of was held at 12 sites across the U.S., from May 18-June 15. Additional spots in the 156-player field are reserved for eligible winners of official PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions events in the weeks remaining before the 2026 U.S. Senior Open. 

List of Local-Final Qualifiers (29): Jay Abraham, Scott Berliner, Craig Bowden, Jonathan Clark, Rik Cramer, Matt Daniel, Chris Dompier, Chris Eassy, Brock Ehler, Caine Fitzgerald, Chad Fribley, Ryan Gracey, Brian Guetz, Rob Labritz, David Mathis, Eric Meichtry, Bruce Nakamura, Stephen Nichols, David Noto, John O’Leary, Michael Pearson, Bob Rittberger, John Rollins, Tucker Sampson, Michael Stamberger, Jerod Turner, Paul Wackerly, Jeff Williams and Tracy Vest 

SENIOR OPEN BIRTHDAYS

Three players in the U.S. Senior Open field will be celebrating a birthday during the championship.  

Chris Kamin will celebrate his 52nd birthday on the first day of the championship. The Phoenix, Ariz., resident will be making his debut at the U.S. Senior Open after earning medalist honors at the El Caballero Country Club qualifier, in Tarzana, Calif.  

Chris Dompier, the Director of Golf at Skyline Country Club in Tucson, Ariz., will celebrate his 50th birthday during the first round of this week's national championship after earning one of the final spots in the field as the first alternate from the Country Club of Colorado qualifier. 

Kevin Sutherland, who has registered four top-10s in the U.S. Senior Open, turns 62 on July 4th. Sutherland turned professional in 1992 and has claimed eight victories, including the 2002 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and 2021 Cologuard Classic.  

2026 U.S. Senior Open Birthdays 

Name                         Birthdate                     Age (on birthday) 

Chris Kamin                 7-2-74                         52 

Chris Dompier             7-2-76                         50 

Kevin Sutherland         7-4-64                        62 

2026 U.S. SENIOR OPEN NOTES 

• Scioto Country Club is hosting its fifth USGA championship dating back to the 1926 U.S. Open 

• Scioto will host its third U.S. Senior Open, which ties a record for most times as a playing site 

• This year’s championship features six World Golf Hall of Famers, including Vijay Singh and Padraig Harrington 

• Scioto C.C. will host the 1,033rd USGA championship with this year’s U.S. Senior Open 

• The 46th U.S. Senior Open is the 42nd USGA championship to be conducted in the state of Ohio (T-7th most) 

• Scioto is one of only five clubs to host the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup and the U.S. Amateur 

• The 2026 U.S. Senior Open marks the 40th anniversary of the 1986 championship at Scioto and 100th anniversary of the USGA’s first championship at the club, the 1926 U.S. Open. 

USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT SCIOTO   

This will be the third U.S. Senior Open Championship and the fifth USGA championship to be conducted at Scioto Country Club. 

2016 U.S. Senior Open (Gene Sauers)  

1986 U.S. Senior Open (Dale Douglass) 

1968 U.S. Amateur (Bruce Fleisher) 

1926 U.S. Open (Bob Jones) 

Other Championships at Scioto (champion in parenthesis):

2025 Southern Ohio PGA Tour Championship (Bob Sowards) 

2024 Big Ten Men’s Golf Championship (Daniel Svard, Northwestern) 

1951 Sub-Juvenile Boys Championship (Jack Nicklaus) 

1950 PGA Championship (Chandler Harper) 

1931 Ryder Cup (United States defeated Great Britain, 9-3)

USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS IN OHIO 

This will be the 41st USGA championship played in Ohio and the seventh U.S. Senior Open contested in the state. 

Recent USGA/Ohio Championships (champion in parenthesis) 

2022 U.S. Senior Women’s Open, NCR C.C., Dayton (Jill McGill)  

2019 U.S. Junior Amateur, Inverness Club, Toledo (Preston Summerhayes) 

2016 U.S. Senior Open, Scioto C.C., Columbus (Gene Sauers) 

2013 USGA Women’s State Team, NCR C.C., Dayton (New Jersey) 

2012 U.S. Women’s Amateur, The Country Club, Cleveland (Lydia Ko) 

2011 U.S. Senior Open, Inverness Club, Toledo (Olin Browne) 

2005 U.S. Senior Open, NCR C.C., Dayton (Allen Doyle)  

2005 U.S. Amateur Public Links, Shaker Run Golf Club, Lebanon (Clay Ogden) 

2003 U.S. Senior Open, Inverness Club, Toledo (Bruce Lietzke) 

2026 U.S. Senior Open Players Who Played In 2016 U.S. Senior Open at Scioto (23): Stephen Ames, Billy Andrade, Woody Austin, Olin Browne, Mark Calcavecchia, Stephen Dodd, Scott Dunlap, Joe Durant, Paul Goydos, Jay Haas, Lee Janzen, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Brandt Jobe, Brad Lardon, Jeff Maggert, Michael McCoy, Colin Montgomerie, Kenny Perry, Gene Sauers (Champion), Vijay Singh, Kevin Sutherland, Kirk Triplett and Scott Verplank 

Past Senior Open Champions: Since the U.S. Senior Open began in 1980, three players have successfully defended their title: Miller Barber (1984-85), Gary Player (1987-88) and Allen Doyle (2005-06). In 2018, David Toms became the second player to win the championship after missing the cut the previous year. 

CAREER SENIOR MAJOR LEADERS

Bernhard Langer, who has won all five senior major professional titles, is the career leader in that category with 12. Jack Nicklaus, a two-time U.S. Senior Open champion, is second with eight senior major professional titles. Hale Irwin, who won the U.S. Senior Open in 1998 and 2000, and Steve Stricker, the 2019 U.S. Senior Open champion, are tied for third with seven senior majors. 

CAREER Senior Majors (Numerical Order, Bold = 2026 U.S. Senior Open competitor) 

SENIOR OPEN PRIZE MONEY

Padraig Harrington earned $800,000 from a purse of $4 million when he captured the 2025 U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Hale Irwin received $400,000 from a purse of $2.25 million when the championship was played in 2000 at Saucon Valley Country Club. In 1980, Roberto De Vicenzo won the first U.S. Senior Open and earned $20,000. 

PLAYER STORYLINES

Ryan Armour, 50, of Silver Lake, Ohio; The Silver Lake, Ohio, native will compete in his first U.S. Senior Open after carding a 2-under-par 70 at The Bear's Club, in Jupiter, Fla. Armour owns three professional wins, including the 2017 Sanderson Farms Championship on the PGA Tour. A year earlier, he captured the Panama Claro Championship on the Web.com Tour (now Korn Ferry Tour). Armour was the runner-up to Tiger Woods in the 1993 U.S. Junior Amateur at Waverley Country Club, in Portland, Ore. He had a 2-up lead with two holes to play in the 18-hole final and watched Woods go birdie-birdie to force extra holes and then won the title with a par on the 19th hole. It was Woods' third consecutive Junior victory. Armour would later attend The Ohio State University, where he was a third-team All-American in 1998. Armour's grandfather, Frank Armour, was president of the Pittsburgh-based H.J. Heinz Company. 

Michael Block, 50, of Mission Viejo, Calif.; Block celebrated his 50th birthday in style by qualifying for his first U.S. Senior Open. He carded an even-par 71 at El Caballero Country Club, in Tarzana, Calif., on June 15. The head professional at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Course, in Mission Viejo, Calif., made national headlines when he made a final-round hole-in-one while playing alongside Rory McIlroy in the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club, in Rochester, N.Y. He would finish in a tie for 15th and later received a sponsor's exemption into the RBC Canadian Open. Block also competed in the 2024 PGA Championship. Among his seven professional victories is the 2014 PGA Professional Championship. He also has won the Southern California PGA Championship five times and the 2001 California State Open. Block played his college golf at both Mississippi State and the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He's qualified for two U.S. Opens, missing the cut in 2007 and 2018. 

Michael Campbell, 56, of New Zealand; broke through in 2005 to win his first major championship, fending off Tiger Woods to claim the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. That same year he also won the HSBC World Match Play Championship. Like many who grow up in New Zealand, Campbell dreamed of playing for the All Blacks, the country's world-class rugby team. His mother, however, persuaded him not to pursue the sport. Campbell settled for golf and he rose to prominence in the amateur ranks. He represented New Zealand in the 1992 World Amateur Team Championship. He turned professional in 1993 and earned his playing privileges on the European Tour (now DP World Tour) by 1995. He currently owns 15 professional victories, seven coming on the PGA Tour of Australia. He represented the International Presidents Cup Team in 2000 and 2005. 

Angel Cabrera, 56, of Argentina; Cabrera broke through for the first of his two major championships by holding off Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk at the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont, becoming the first Argentinian to claim this title. He followed that up with a playoff victory over Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell at the 2009 Masters. Two years later, he lost a sudden-death playoff to Adam Scott at Augusta National Golf Club. Cabrera enjoyed a solid 2025 campaign on the PGA Tour Champions, winning the Regions Tradition and Senior PGA Championship in consecutive weeks. Cabrera now owns 57 worldwide victories. He also represented the International Team in four Presidents Cups. 

Stewart Cink, 53, of Atlanta, Ga.; The former Georgia Tech standout nearly won in his U.S. Senior Open debut last year at The Broadmoor, coming up a shot short of Padraig Harrington. Cink, who claimed the 2025 Charles Schwab Cup, owns eight PGA Tour Champions victories, including the 2026 Senior PGA Championship, the 2026 Regions Tradition and the 2025 Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Cink carded a final-round, bogey-free 63 at The Concession Golf Club to win the Senior PGA Championship. Two weeks later, he captured the Regions Tradition by three strokes to go 2-for-2 in senior majors in 2026. Prior to turning 50, Cink won eight times on the PGA Tour, including the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry in a memorable playoff against Tom Watson. Cink posted three top-10 finishes in the U.S. Open, including solo third in 2001 at Southern Hills Country Club when he was one stroke from being in an 18-hole playoff against Retief Goosen and Mark Brooks. He represented the United States in five Ryder Cups and four Presidents Cups. 

Rik Cramer, 53, of Dayton, Ohio; The head professional at Miami Valley Golf Club took full advantage of his course knowledge to qualify for his first U.S. Senior Open. Cramer carded a 2-under 70, then survived a 6-for-5 playoff for the final spots. On April 27, he advanced out of a local qualifier at Worthington Hills Country Club, shooting a 72. Approximately 100 people, many from MVGC, followed Cramer down the stretch of the final qualifier. Besides Miami Valley, Cramer also had two stints at the Country Club of the North. He returned to Miami Valley, where he landed his first job, to become the head pro in 2022. 

Ernie Els, 56, of South Africa; The two-time U.S. Open champion from South Africa is set to make his sixth U.S. Senior Open start. Els also owns a pair of victories in The Open Championship: 2002 at Muirfield and 2012 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. His two U.S. Open triumphs came in 1994 at Oakmont Country Club in a playoff and 1997 at Congressional Country Club. The 2011 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee owns 79 worldwide victories, 19 of which came on the PGA Tour. Since turning 50, Els has claimed seven titles on PGA Tour Champions, including the 2024 Kaulig Companies Championship, one of the circuit's five annual majors. Off the course, Els is heavily involved with fighting autism, something that is deeply personal to himself and wife, Liezl. Their son, Ben, was diagnosed with autism at an early age and Els raises money to help fight the disease through his Els for Autism Pro-Am. He also has a foundation in his native South Africa that helps support underprivileged children. 

Padraig Harrington, 54, Republic of Ireland; The World Golf Hall of Fame inductee captured his second U.S. Senior Open title last June at The Broadmoor (East Course), holding off Stewart Cink by a stroke. Harrington claimed his first U.S. Senior Open championship in 2022 when he edged Steve Stricker by a shot at Saucon Valley Country Club's Old Course. He now is among the notable players with multiple U.S. Senior Open titles, a group that includes Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Hale Irwin. He followed up his victory at The Broadmoor by capturing the Senior Open Championship conducted by The R&A at Sunningdale Golf Club, in England. When Harrington played on the PGA Tour, he captured three major championships, The Open Championship in 2007 and 2008, and the PGA Championship in 2008. The native of the Republic of Ireland won 15 titles on the European Tour (now DP World Tour) and six on the PGA Tour. He's also played on five European Ryder Cup teams. He captained the 2021 European side. 

Miguel Angel Jimenez, 62, of Spain; is coming off a magnificent 2025 season on the PGA Tour Champions with four victories, including the Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone C.C., one of five senior majors. Jimenez, who finished third at The Broadmoor, owns six top-10 finishes in the U.S. Senior Open. He shared second in 2016 when the championship was last held at Scioto C.C. Since joining PGA Tour Champions in 2014, Jimenez owns 17 victories and 16 runner-up finishes. Before turning 50, Jimenez won 21 times on the European Tour (now DP World Tour). Nicknamed "The Mechanic," Jimenez was once asked the secret to his longevity: "Good food, good wine, good cigars and some exercise." Besides his Kaulig Companies title, he also owns two other senior major victories, the 2018 Regions Tradition and Senior Open Championship. He has represented Europe on four Ryder Cup teams. 

Justin Leonard, 54, of Tequesta, Fla.; The 1997 winner of The Open Championship at Royal Troon is set to make his fourth consecutive U.S. Senior Open start. Leonard, who won the 1992 U.S. Amateur at nearby Muirfield Village Golf Club, owns 15 professional victories, 12 of which came on the PGA Tour. His last victory on that circuit came in the 2008 Stanford St. Jude Championship. He produced his second PGA Tour Champions victory in October when he captured the Dominion Energy Charity Classic. Earlier in 2025, Leonard won the Chubb Classic in Florida. Leonard was an All-American performer at the University of Texas. He was a member of the victorious 1993 USA Walker Cup Team and competed in the 1992 World Amateur Team Championship. He also had a memorable Ryder Cup moment in 1999 at The Country Club, in Brookline, Mass., holing a 45-foot birdie putt against Jose Maria Olazabal in Sunday singles that clinched the Cup for the Americans. Leonard represented his country in three Ryder Cups and five Presidents Cups. Besides his PGA win in 1997, he was the runner-up in the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie and the 2004 PGA Championship. He was the low amateur in the 1993 U.S. Open at Baltusrol. 

Davis Love III, 62, of Sea Island, Ga.; The winner of the PGA Championship in 1997 will be making his third U.S. Senior Open appearance. Love III tied for 10th in 2018 at The Broadmoor in his first Senior Open start. Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2017, Love III has enjoyed quite the career since his collegiate days at the University of North Carolina. He has amassed 37 worldwide victories, with 21 coming on the PGA Tour. Besides his PGA Championship victory at Winged Foot, Love III also won The Players Championship in 1992 and the MCI Heritage five times at Harbour Town Golf Links, on Hilton Head Island, S.C. He also was the runner-up to Steve Jones in the 1996 U.S. Open at Oakland Hills Country Club, and a runner-up in the 1995 Masters Tournament. Love's father, Davis Jr., was an accomplished player himself, and the younger Love was born a day after Davis Jr. competed in the 1964 Masters. Davis Jr., Davis III and Dru Love became one of the rare three-generation players to compete in the U.S. Open, joining the Herron and Alexander families. Davis III represented the USA in the 1985 Walker Cup Match at Pine Valley, and later six Ryder Cup Teams. He would also captain two Ryder Cup teams. He also played on six U.S. Presidents Cup Teams and captained one. 

Ian Poulter, 50, of England; The Englishman and European Ryder Cup stalwart is set to make his U.S. Senior Open debut after turning 50 in January. Poulter made his legacy by being a member of five victorious European Ryder Cup Teams (he competed in seven Ryder Cups). Poulter owns 17 professional wins, three of which have come on the PGA Tour, the last being the 2018 Houston Open. He also registered 12 European Tour (now DP World Tour) victories, the last being the 2012 WGC-HSBC Champions. Poulter was the runner-up to Padraig Harrington in the 2008 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. He owns eight top-10 finishes in major championships. He currently plays on LIV Golf. His son, Luke, represented Great Britain & Ireland in the 2025 Walker Cup Match at Cypress Point Club, and is a standout at the University of Florida. 

Bob Rittberger, 55, of Solon, Ohio; The longtime club professional at Garden City Golf Club on Long Island will make his U.S. Senior Open debut after posting 3-under 67 to garner one of the available five spots at the New Haven Country Club final qualifier in Hamden, Conn. He also posted a 73 at his local qualifier at Glen Head Country Club. Rittberger won the 2010 Metropolitan Open in a three-hole playoff at Bethpage State Park's Black Course. In 2025, he tied for second in the Met PGA Senior Championship. 

Henrik Stenson, 50, of Sweden; The Swede is set to make his U.S. Senior Open debut after turning 50 in April. Stenson outdueled Phil Mickelson to win The Open Championship in 2016 at Royal Troon, carding a final-round 63 to edge the left-hander by three strokes. Prior to that, his biggest victory came in The Players Championship in 2009, where he edged fellow European Ryder Cupper Ian Poulter by four strokes. He also won the 2013 Tour Championship at East Lake to claim the FedEx Cup title. Of his 22 worldwide victories, six have come on the PGA Tour. He also posted 11 European Tour (now DP World Tour) victories, including consecutive DP World Tour Championships in Dubai. He currently plays on LIV Golf. Besides his Open Championship triumph, Stenson owns 11 other top-10 finishes in major championships, including a share of fourth in the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. He also was the runner-up to Mickelson in the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield. He has represented Europe in five Ryder Cups, and he competed for Sweden in the 1998 World Amateur Team Championship. 

Paul Wackerly, 53, of Carrollton, Ohio; The Carrollton, Ohio, resident survived both stages of qualifying and a playoff to earn his first U.S. Senior Open start. Wackerly posted a 72 in his local qualifier at Orchard Ridge Country Club on April 29, then advanced to the championship proper via a 6-for-5 playoff at Miami Valley Golf Club after posting a 70. He is the pro at Carroll Meadows Golf Course, in Carrollton. In 2025, he won the senior division of the Toledo Open. He also claimed the senior division of the 2024 Indian River Open.