US Open facts in numbers

With the 2013 US Open just around the corner, we take a look at some facts and figures from Merion and beyond....

3 - Designer of the East Course at Merion, Hugh Wilson, planned 3 courses in his career - The East and The West Course at Merion and Cobb's Creek Golf Club. He was a lifelong amateur golfer who attended Princeton University and opened Merion in 1912.

9,860 - Any professional or amateur with a handicap of 1.4 or lower is allowed to enter the qualification process for the prestigious major and this year 9,860 entries were accepted by the USGA - the highest total in US Open history.

111 - Played over the standard 18 holes, Local Qualifying took place at 111 sites in the U.S in May

825 - Number of players who made it through to Sectional Qualifying in the U.S.

13 - Played over 36 holes, Sectional Qualifying was conducted over 13 sites. Eleven in the U.S, one in Japan and one in England.

74 - Number of golfers who made it through Sectional Qualifying in all three countries and will tee up at Merion.

18 - Number of golfers who made it through both Local and Sectional Qualifiers.

6 - Number of times 48-year old journeyman Geoffrey Sisk has made it through both Local and Sectional Qualifiers and teed up at US Opens.

156 - The amount of players who have made the final field at Merion. This number will be cut after 36 holes to the 60 low scorers (and ties).

2012 - The year Webb Simpson, playing in only his second US Open, won at Olympic Club. The 26-year-old shot a two-under-par 68 in the final round to move past seven players and edge past Graeme McDowell and Michael Thompson.

9 - Number of players in the field who have 15 or more US Open appearances. Phil Mickelson (23), Ernie Els (21), Jim Furyk (19), Stewart Cink (18), Tiger Woods (18), David toms (17), Padraig Harrington (16) and Michael Campbell (15).

21 - Ernie Els has appeared in 21 (including this year) consecutive US Opens. He is closely followed by Phil Mickelson (20), Stewart Cink (18) and Jim Furyk (18).

12 - Number of Champions who have missed the cut in their title defence since 1970. Orville Moody (1970), Tony Jacklin (1971), Jerry Pate (1977), Hubert Green (1978), Larry Nelson (1983), Tom Kite (1993), Lee Janzen (1994), Ernie Els (1995), Retief Goosen (2002), Michael Campbell (2006), Angel Cabrera (2008), Rory McIlroy (2012)

3 - Only 3 Champions have finished better than 40th in defence of their title. Graeme McDowell (T14 in 2011), Tiger Woods (T12 in 2001 and T6 in 2009) and Retief Goosen (T11 IN 2005).

5 - Only 5 players have won the Masters and US Open trophies in the same year: Craig Wood (1941), Ben Hogan (1951, 1953), Arnold Palmer (1960), Jack Nicklaus (1972) and Tiger Woods (2002). Not a good omen for Adam Scott...

10 - The winner will be given 10 years of exemptions for future US Opens.

5 - Is the magic number when it comes to exemptions for the winner of the 2013 US Open. They will receive invitations to the next 5 Masters, British Opens, PGA Championships and Players Championships. They will also have exempt status on the PGA Tour for 5 years.

10 - The top 10 finishers (and ties) will be exempt for next year's US Open. The top four finishers (and ties) will also receive an invitation to next year's Masters Tournament.

16 - This is the 16th US Open in Pennsylvania.

180 - The US Open will be broadcast in 180 countries worldwide