Late rush takes final tally to just 80 short of record
A total of 9,006 golfers have filed entries for this year's US Open at Olympic club in San Francisco on June 14-17.
Entries were received from all 50 states of America and 71 countries in all.
There were 677 entries on the last day, including 124 in the final hour, meaning the final total of 9,006 was just 80 short of the record.
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.
Only 53 players are currently exempt for the championship won last year by Rory McIlroy at Congressional.
Qualifying includes the 36-hole competition at Walton Heath on May 28. New Zealander Michael Campbell came through that to win in 2005.
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.
