Seve Invited to U.S. Open

FAR HILLS, New Jersey -- Seve Ballesteros and Ben Crenshaw have been given exemptions into the U.S. Open golf tournament.Other special exemptions had previously been issued to former Open champions Arnold Palmer, Johnny Miller and Larry Nelson. Ballesteros joined Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki of Japan in receiving an international exemption, the United States Golf Association announced Tuesday.Ballesteros, who has played in 15 consecutive Opens, had hoped to qualify automatically as one of the top two money winners on the European tour. But he slipped from the money-winners' lead after the British PGA.The Spaniard, winner of three British Opens and two Masters championships, said after the British PGA at Wentworth that he would not try to pre-qualify for the Open.Crenshaw has played in 20 U.S. Opens but none since 1990 at Medinah. He has finished in the top 10 four times with his best finish being a third-place showing in the 1985 Open at Oakland Hills.The Executive Committee of the USGA also voted to expand this year's championship field at Oakmont Country Club on June 16-19 by three players. The field size will be 159 players.