US Open: More than 10,000 to play in local and sectional qualifying
A record number of golfers will attempt to qualify for this year's US Open in North Carolina.
Last Updated: 23/05/14 1:18pm
For the first time in the championship's history more than 10,000 will be involved in local and sectional qualifying.
A total of 10,127 have entered this year's second major, which betters the previous record of 9,860 for the 2013 US Open at Merion in Pennsylvania.
Among those entered for this season's event at Pinehurst are 51 golfers who are already fully exempt for the tournament which tees-off on June 12.
Local qualifying, played over 18 holes at 111 sites in the United States, will take place between May 2-19.
Sectional qualifying, played over 36 holes, will be held at 10 courses in the States and two overseas in Japan and Great Britain.
The United States Golf Association received 580 entries on the final day for applications, with 115 in the final hour on April 25.
Travis Wells, who is yet to turn 15, submitted his entry just 26 seconds before the deadline.
The total number of fully exempt players will increase before the tournament starts at Pinehurst which will be hosting the US Open for a third time.
New Zealander Michael Campbell won the title on the most recent occasion the event was staged at Pinehurst nine years ago, while Englishman Justin Rose is the defending champion.
Players already exempt: Keegan Bradley, Angel Cabrera, Michael Campbell, Roberto Castro, Stewart Cink, Darren Clarke, Nicolas Colsaerts, Jason Day, Brendon de Jonge, Graham DeLaet, Luke Donald, Jason Dufner, Ernie Els, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Matthew Fitzpatrick (a), Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia, Lucas Glover, Retief Goosen, Oliver Goss (a), Bill Haas, Billy Horschel, Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Hideki Matsuyama, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson, Geoff Ogilvy, Louis Oosthuizen, Kenny Perry, DA Points, Justin Rose, Charl Schwartzel, Adam Scott, Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker, Jordan Spieth, Henrik Stenson, Kevin Streelman, Steve Stricker, Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Boo Weekley, Gary Woodland, Tiger Woods, Yong-Eun Yang.
