First, a U.S. Open qualifying quiz:

Who is exempt from the 2007 U.S. Open

A. Corey Pavin
B. Ryuji Imada

Answer below.

The USGA sends out some pretty dull press releases, but its latest was chock full of interesting stuff.

It involves entries to the U.S. Open, to be played June 14-17 at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, PA.

They got more than 8,500 entries, 80 percent of them online. More than 700 were received the final day, 130 in the final hour. A guy named Arvo Voip, a 25-year-old amateur from Magalia, California, got his in with 17 seconds to spare.

The oldest applicant is 76-year-old Ordean Olsen, a pro from Hollywood, Florida. He was the oldest last year, too. The youngest is 12-year-old Brad Nelson from Ponte Vedra.

Anyone know what the minimum criterium is? You either have to be a pro or have a handicap of 1.4.

Fifty-eight golfers are exempt, a number that will grow when the top 50 players from the World Golf Rankings, the top-10 money leaders on the PGA Tour, and the top two money leaders on the European Tour are let in as of June 3.

Local qualifying at 109 sites starts May 2, followed by sectional qualifying, including one each in England and Japan.

Quiz answer: B. (Corey Pavin won the U.S. Open in 1995 and has to re-qualify this year).

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