(CNN) -- "I love Merion, and I don't even know her last name," legendary golfer Lee Trevino was once memorably quoted when asked about the venue for this week's U.S. Open. "Supermex" had good cause for his admiration of the famous inland links near Philadelphia, having won the 1971 edition of the tournament after a playoff with Jack Nicklaus, no less. Nicklaus, who went on to win a record 18 major titles, described Merion's championship East Course as "Acre for acre, maybe the best test of golf in the world." Current No. 1 Tiger Woods is another big fan. "You have to be so disciplined to play that course," he said after a recent practice round.
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Merion is renowned as one of the finest golf courses in the world
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Legendary players have won important tournaments on the inland links
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U.S. Open venue is famous for its wicker basket flags
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Strong Scottish influence in the design of the East Course
They first appeared at @placeholder in 1915, three years after the course opened in September 1912.