2000 US Open pin flag Tiger Woods Jack Nicklaus Pebble Beach ryder british pga

Description

The
2000 United States Open Championship
was the 100th
U.S. Open Championship
, held June 15–18 at
Pebble Beach Golf Links
in
Pebble Beach, California
.
Tiger Woods
won his first U.S. Open by a record-setting fifteen strokes over runners-up
Ernie Els
and
Miguel Ángel Jiménez
– it remains the most dominating performance and victory in any
major championship
. As the
United States Golf Association
wanted to begin the millennium with a memorable tournament, Pebble Beach was moved up two years in the rotation.
[3]
Notable golfers going into the tournament at large included
Jack Nicklaus
, playing in his final U.S. Open;
Vijay Singh
, the year's
Masters
winner;
Ernie Els
; and
David Duval
.
Defending champion
Payne Stewart
had died in an
aviation accident
on October 25 at the age of 42. His death was commemorated many times throughout the week, starting with a ceremony on the eve of the tournament at the 18th hole. Speakers included Stewart's widow Tracey and his good friend
Paul Azinger
, while attendees included
Phil Mickelson
,
Davis Love III
,
David Duval
,
Tom Lehman
,
Lee Janzen
,
Sergio García
and Stewart's caddy Mike Hicks, and it concluded with shots being hit into Stillwater Cove in a golf version of a
21-gun salute
.
[4]
García also wore Stewart's trademark navy
plus fours
in Stewart's honor in the first round.
[5]
Nicklaus was asked to take Stewart's spot in the traditional opening grouping of the prior year's
Open Championship (British Open)
winner (
Paul Lawrie
),
U.S. Amateur
winner (
David Gossett
), and U.S. Open winner, and he asked for a moment of silence in Stewart's memory before his opening tee shot.
[6]
Aside from being the last U.S. Open appearance for Nicklaus, playing in his 44th consecutive U.S. Open, it was also the last appearance for two-time winner
Curtis Strange
.