FACTS AND FIGURES

WHEN: Today through Sunday.

* SITE: Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Md.

* LENGTH: 7,213 yards.

* PAR: 35-35--70.

* PLAYOFF: 18 holes, Monday (if necessary).

* FIELD: 156 (150 pros, six amateurs).

* PURSE: $2.6 million.

* WINNER’S SHARE: $465,000.

* DEFENDING CHAMPION: Steve Jones.

* FORMER OPEN CHAMPION AT CONGRESSIONAL: Ken Venturi (1964).

* FORMER OPEN CHAMPIONS IN FIELD: Jones (1996), Corey Pavin (1995), Ernie Els (1994), Lee Janzen (1993), Tom Kite (1992), Payne Stewart (1991), Hale Irwin (1974, 1979, 1990); Curtis Strange (1988, 1989); Scott Simpson (1987), Fuzzy Zoeller (1984), Larry Nelson (1983), Tom Watson (1982), Jack Nicklaus (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980).

By The Numbers

* 0: Number of U.S. Open courses longer than Congressional (7,213 yards).

* 1: Holes on the course more than 600 yards (607-yard ninth).

* 4: Players who have won the Masters and Open in the same year: Craig Wood (1941), Ben Hogan (1951, ‘53), Arnold Palmer (1960), Jack Nicklaus (1972).

* 6: Golfers who have won consecutive Opens (Curtis Strange 1988, ‘89; Ben Hogan 1950, ‘51; Ralph Guldahl 1937, ‘38; Bobby Jones 1929, ‘30; John McDermott 1911, ‘12; Willie Anderson 1903, ‘04, ’05.

* 21: Raymond Floyd’s record number of Open appearances before winning in 1986.

* 29: Rounds in the 60s by Jack Nicklaus in the Open.

* 31: Number of times the Open has been won in a playoff.

* 41: Consecutive starts in the U.S. Open for Jack Nicklaus (the only player in the field who also played in the 1964 Open at Congressional).

* 45: Age of Hale Irwin, the oldest winner of the Open, in 1990.

* 87: Players who had to qualify for spots in the 156-player field.

* 100: Sand bunkers on the course.

* 112: PGA Tour victories, plus British Open titles, by Jack Nicklaus, Ben Crenshaw and Hale Irwin, who will play as a threesome today and Friday.

* 12,000: Golf balls used on the practice range during the tournament.

* 17,500: Dollars in Ken Venturi’s winner’s check in 1964.