1. ’03: Tiger Woods
Won in ’02 at 277 (-3)
After winning at New York’s Bethpage State Park Black Course, Woods made a run at Olympia Fields with a 4-under-par 66 in the second round. But he shot 75 Saturday and tied for 20th at 3 over.
2. ’02: Retief Goosen
Won in ’01 at 276 (-4)
After blowing a short putt on the final hole, Goosen beat Mark Brooks in an 18-hole playoff. The next year he was a non-factor, missing the cut by shooting 14 over (79-75).
3. ’01: Tiger Woods
Won in ’00 at 272 (-12)
After winning at Pebble Beach by a record 15 strokes, Woods’ chances for a repeat at Southern Hills C.C. in Tulsa were gone after he shot 5 over in the first two rounds. He rallied to finish 12th.
4. ’00: Payne Stewart
Won in ’99 at 279 (-1)
Stewart held off Phil Mickelson and Woods to win at Pinehurst C.C. in North Carolina. He did not get a chance to try for a repeat, dying in a plane crash that October.
5. ’99: Lee Janzen
Won in ’98 at 280 (E)
Janzen edged Stewart by one stroke at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. Stewart rebounded the next year, but Janzen finished 46th at 18 over par.
6. ’98: Ernie Els
Won in ’97 at 276 (-4)
Els won by a stroke over Colin Montgomerie at Congressional C.C. in Bethesda, Md., but at the Olympic Club he never got it going, finishing 49th at 16 over par.
Note: Jim Furyk won in 2003 but will not play in 2004 due to an injury.
