USGA Calls 2012 U.S. Open Big Success on Several Fronts


At the conclusion of the 2012 U.S. Open Championship at the Olympic Club, the United States Golf Association (USGA) released the following statements.

"The USGA is thrilled at how this year's U.S. Open delivered for players, fans and the San Francisco community," said USGA President Glen D. Nager. "We are deeply appreciative of the field, spectators, viewers, staff, volunteers, media and partners who made this such a compelling and pitch-perfect event. We offer our heartfelt congratulations to our champion Webb Simpson, runners-up Graeme McDowell and Michael Thompson, and low amateur Jordan Spieth.

"A worldwide audience of tens of millions of golf fans enjoyed the crowning of Webb Simpson as our 112th U.S. Open champion," added Thomas J. O'Toole Jr., USGA vice president and chairman of the championship committee. "The experience here on-site at Olympic, online at usopen.com and on television demonstrated that our national championship presents the ultimate physical and mental challenge, as well as a test of shotmaking that is unrivaled in championship golf.

"We are already looking forward to next year, when the tradition of golf's toughest test will continue in the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club."

"The Lake Course here at The Olympic Club played exactly the way that we believe a U.S. Open Championship course should play," said USGA Executive Director Mike Davis. "It delivered a tough yet fair test of golf to the very best players in the game, and truly examined virtually every part of their games. This week was classic U.S. Open golf, and it clearly identified a national champion who excelled in every challenge along the way."

On Monday, the USGA also announced that the 2012 U.S. Open set records for website and mobile device engagement by golf fans.

The www.usopen.com website, developed in conjunction with technology partner IBM, showcased live-streaming video, live scoring, interactive play tracking and up-to-the-minute news and photos throughout the championship, bringing fans closer to the action than ever before.

Overall fan visits to the site during the week of the championship increased by 79 percent over the week of the 2011 championship. Fan viewership of live streaming video increased 210 percent over 2011, further demonstrating the benefits of technology to the U.S. Open experience.

There were also significant gains in audience usage of mobile devices over the 2011 championship, driven in part by the introduction of a new app for Android OS devices. The USGA recorded a 44 percent increase in iPhone app downloads, and fans also followed the action on the m.usopen.com mobile website, which charted a 375 percent increase in overall visits compared to 2011.

"It's clear that golf fans are looking for deeper levels of engagement with the U.S. Open beyond traditional broadcast channels," said Sarah Hirshland, USGA senior managing director, Business Affairs. "Our Web and mobile platforms are evolving at a rapid pace and we are thrilled at the high levels of acceptance they are finding among consumers worldwide."

The above report is courtesy of the USGA. For more information, visit www.usga.org.