1909 U.S. Open (golf)

The 1909 U.S. Open was the 15th U.S. Open, held June 24–25 at Englewood Golf Club in Englewood, New Jersey, north of downtown New York City (Manhattan). George Sargent established a new tournament scoring record to win his only major title, four strokes ahead of runner-up Tom McNamara.

David Hunter made U.S. Open history in the first round by becoming the first player to break 70, but he had some problems in the second round when he hit his ball into a brook and subsequently used four niblick shots in getting out. After reaching the turn in 47 he made a nice recovery on the back nine and came home in 37, shooting 84 and ultimately finished in 30th place. Tom McNamara also broke 70, shooting a 69 in the second round, and he carried a two-stroke lead over George Sargent into the final round. Sargent birdied the 18th in the final round on his way to a 71 and his third consecutive round of 72 or better. McNamara struggled over the final 18-holes, carding a 77 and finishing four back of Sargent. Sargent's winning total of 290 broke the old tournament scoring record by five shots. Tom Peebles was well positioned after three rounds on 222 but struggled and fell back into the pack with a final round 78.

John McDermott, aged 17, made his U.S. Open debut this year and finished in 49th. He would place in the top-10 in each of the next five U.S. Opens and won consecutive titles in 1911 and 1912, becoming the first American-born champion. Four-time champion Willie Anderson tied for 4th, his final top-10 finish at his next to last U.S. Open appearance. Horace Rawlins, the inaugural U.S. Open champion back in 1895, made his last cut in the tournament and finished in 60th.