WGT Golf News

Continue playing the free 2012 Virtual U.S. Open on WGT with this 9-shot, closest-to-the-hole challenge on the back nine holes of The Olympic Club, available now!

Enter the free Back 9 Challenge tournament now for a chance to win some great prizes -- and new this year, both the top score AND a random sweepstakes player will each win a $500 gift card to the USGA Shop.

Play "virtually" the same 2012 U.S. Open course at The Olympic Club, and experience the same thrills, frustrations and challenges as your favorite professional golfers. The live U.S. Open is June 11-17, but you can play WGT's Virtual U.S. Open now!

Play the Virtual U.S. Open Back 9 Challenge

The Olympic Club Lake Course, which opened in 1924 and was redesigned in 1927 due to damage, is considered one of the top 100 golf courses in the world. The Olympic Club is almost entirely within the borders of San Francisco with no water hazards, though it borders Lake Merced, and has hosted the US Open in 1955, 1966, 1987, 1998 and 2012. 

The USGA hosted the first U.S. Open Championship on October 4, 1895 on the nine-hole course of Newport (Rhode Island) Golf and Country Club. The first players to compete included 10 professionals and one amateur in the 36-hole competition -- composed of four trips around the Newport course in a single day. Horace Rawlins, 21, is the first tournament winner, finishing with a score of 91-82-173 and taking home the $150 first prize, of the $335 total prize money.

Last year Rory McIlroy became the youngest U.S. Open champion since Bobby Jones in 1923 with a record score of 16 under par, and will be returning this year to defend his title. 

*See tournament rules for details

At the 10th anniversary of the Wells Fargo Championship this weekend at Quail Hollow, Rickie Fowler finished with a 3-under 69 to beat both Rory McIlroy and D.A. Points in a three-way playoff for his first PGA Tour win. Fowler hit his approach shot on the first playoff hole to 4 feet, setting up the short birdie putt that he made to earn the title. 

The win came in his 67th pro start and put him into the #15 spot in the latest FedExCup standings, just two below Tiger Woods who missed the cut this weekend. 

Fowler, McIlroy and Points finished tied at 14-under 274 after 72 holes of the Wells Fargo Championship, going into the playoff. McIlroy finished the tournament with a 2-under 70, while Points finished with a 1-under 71. 

There is now talk of a growing rivalry between the two young golfers, but McIlroy still has a couple extra years of experience as a pro over Fowler. However even with the extra years under his belt, McIlroy says of Fowler, "I think it was just a matter of time before he won." If there is going to be a growing rivalry, it will be fun to watch!

Hometown favorite Webb Simpson, who lives a mile from Quail Hollow, missed a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th that would have put him in the playoff, leaving him with a 73 to finish alone in fourth place.

Though he finished tied for second in the tournament, McIlroy did have a victory of his own: reclaiming the #1 spot in the official world golf ranking. 

Final Leaderboard

Photo credit: PGA

Former PGA Tour player and co-host of the Hooked on Golf radio show, John Abendroth will be sharing his insights over the air waves on The Olympic Club course leading up to the 2012 US Open Championship. John has been the golf course record holder at the Lake Course at The Olympic Club since 1962 and he is a 4-Time Club Champion as well. Every Saturday morning, the team at Hooked on Golf shares inside information on the game of golf, its big names and a healthy dose of light-hearted fun. Mitch Juricich co-hosts the radio show, which Sports Illustrated called ‘the most successful of the few golf radio shows in existence.’ Additionally, Tom Spencer provides special reports and Tour updates.

Listeners can expect to hear insights about The Olympic Club course, such as this insight on hole #1: "This opening hole will be played as a par-4 for the first time in championship history at The Olympic Club. The dog leg right with rolling fairway is an easy opening tee shot, but the downhill shot to the green will be a challenge. Two bunkers are about 40-yards short of the green and the uneven terrain in front of the green will create some excitement."

Visit the Hooked on Golf website to get all of John's insights on The Olympic Club, Hole-by-Hole. 

And, tune in to Fox Sports Bay Area and KNBR-680 am on Saturday mornings to hear the Hooked on Golf show.

Mother's Day is Sunday, May 13th.

Current offers are 1,750 WGT Credits from ProFlowers and 1,750 WGT Credits from FTD!*

See Mother's Day Offers

You can use your free WGT Credits to upgrade your virtual equipment, helping you improve your game and win more matches. Try out your upgraded equipment on the WGT Virtual U.S. Open Front 9 Challenge, available now!

*Offers are subject to change. See WGT "Earn Free Credits" page for current offers and restrictions.

**Shipping restrictions for international regions may apply, see offer details for more information.