More than 9,000 enter US Open qualifying

A total of 9,006 golfers, just 80 short of the record, have entered this year’s US Open, the event at which Rory McIlroy last year became the youngest champion since amateur Bobby Jones in 1923.

Only 53 players are currently exempt for the championship at Olympic club in San Francisco on June 14-17.

Qualifying includes the 36-hole competition at Walton Heath on May 28. New Zealander Michael Campbell came through that to win in 2005.

Entries were received from all 50 states of America and 71 countries.

There were 677 entries on the last day, including 124 in the final hour. Jason May, a 38-year-old amateur from Sterling Heights in Michigan, was the first entrant on March 5 and professional Brad Doster, from Winter Park in Florida, the last 29 seconds before the deadline.

The number of exempt players will increase with the inclusion of the world’s top 60 on May 21 and June 11, while the winners of the Players Championship at Sawgrass on May 13 and BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on May 27 also earn places.

European players currently exempt are Darren Clarke, Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Peter Hanson, Padraig Harrington, Fredrik Jacobson, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, McIlroy, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood.