When, where: Thursday to Sunday, Congressional Country Club (Blue Course), Bethesda, Md.

Course facts: 7,574 yards, par71.

Field: 156 (141 pros, 13 amateurs), cut after 36 holes to top 60 and ties, plus anyone else within 10 strokes of the lead. Two slots remain open for players moving into the top 50 of the world rankings this week, or if the St. Jude Classic winner also won another PGA Tour event in the past 51 weeks.

Playoff (if necessary): 18 holes to be played June 20, continued in sudden death if still tied.

Television: Thursday-Friday, 10a.m.-3 p.m. (ESPN), 3-5 p.m. (NBC), 5-7 p.m. (ESPN). Saturday, 2-8 p.m. (NBC). Sunday, 1:30-7:30 p.m. (NBC). June 20 (if necessary), noon-2p.m. (ESPN), 2 p.m.-conclusion (NBC).

Last year: Graeme McDowell became the first European winner in 40 years, despite making only one birdie in a final-round 74. The Northern Ireland native began the day three shots behind Dustin Johnson, who made a triple bogey at No. 2 and wound up carding an 82, the highest final round by a 54-hole Open leader since 1911.

Last time at Congressional: Ernie Els parred his final five holes to beat Colin Montgomerie by a shot and Tom Lehman by two for his second Open trophy at 27. A three-way tie prevailed through 70 holes before Lehman hit into the water at No. 17. Montgomerie also missed the 17th green and failed to convert a 5-foot par save to force a playoff.

Changes: The par-3 hole that served as No. 18 in 1997 is gone, part of a Rees Jones revamp that turned the hole around for use as No. 10. The other back-nine holes were bumped back in the order, now ending on the former 17th that decided the '97 Open.

— Jeff Shain