18th August 2024

Match Play – Final

Jose Luis BALLESTER (ESP), who is celebrating his 21st birthday today, won the 124th U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota.

Jose Luis Ballester with the Havemeyer Trophy (Photo: Chris Keane / USGA)

The senior at Arizona State University beat Noah KENT (USA), 19, a sophomore at the University of Iowa, by 2 Holes in the 36 hole Championship match.

Ballester took the lead on the 2nd hole and was 4Up at lunch. Still 4Up after 30 holes it appeared the Spaniard would win comfortably but a few loose shots and a lot of fight from Kent saw the match eventually go down the 18th for the second time. Ballester played this final hole superbly to win the hole and take the title.

Kent v. Ballester Match Play Final Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Results

Ballester, the 2023 European Amateur champion, who is coached by Victor Garcia, Sergio’s father, became the first Spanish champion.

By reaching the Final both players earned exemptions into next year’s Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club and into the U.S. Open at Oakmont.

Ballester, the champion, also earned an exemption into The 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club.

Noah Kent and Jose Ballester (Photo: Chris Keane / USGA)

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Match Play – Semi-Finals

19 year old Noah KENT (USA) ranked 560th in WAGR surprised Jackson BUCHANAN (USA), 22, ranked 17th in the first Semi-Final game, winning the tie by 2 Holes. Buchanan made four bogeys over the first six holes of their game which gave Kent all the encouragement he needed.

The all-Spanish affair between Jose Luis BALLESTER (ESP), 20, ranked 10th in WAGR, and Luis MASAVEU (ESP), 21, ranked 23rd went the way of Ballester. The Arizona State man scrambled superbly and over the 16 holes he required for victory recorded four birdies and no bogeys.

All four Semi-Finalists earned exemptions into the next two U.S. Amateur Championships which will be played at The Olympic Club in San Francisco and at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore.

The losing semi-finalists receive bronze medals for their efforts.

Semi-Finals Results (Graphic: USGA)

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16th August 2024

Match Play – Round 4 (Quarter Finals)

Noah KENT (USA) made six birdies and an eagle on his way to beating Ethan FANG (USA) in the opening Quarter Final match. Showers during the morning had softened the course up making scoring a little easier.

Jackson BUCHANAN (USA) beat Jacob MODLESKI (USA) by 4&3 not needing to play all 18 holes for the first time in match play.

Jose Luis BALLESTER (ESP) eventually got the better of 36 year old Bobby MASSA (USA), a personal trainer from Texas, over the closing holes and was grateful for a 3&1 victory over the 2,969th WAGR ranked player.

Luis MASAVEU (ESP) ensured there would be two Spanish players in the Semi-Finals by overcoming Brendan VALDES (USA) by 3&2 in the final Quarter Final tie. Masaveu fought back well from being 2Down after four holes.

It was the first time that two Spaniards had reached the Quarter Finals in the U.S. Amateur. Sergio Garcia reached the Semi-Finals in 1998.

All eight Quarter Finalists are exempt into the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship which will be played at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.

Quarter Finals Results (Graphic: USGA)

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15th August 2024 – Afternoon

Match Play – Round 3 (Last 16)

This morning’s conquerors of Calum Scott and James Ashfield, Omar MORALES (MEX), seeded 61st, and Phichaksn MAICHON (THA) 46, both lost in the Round of 16.

Jose Luis BALLESTER (ESP) and Luis MASAVEU (ESP) both played very well to continue their runs at the Championship.

In a game where neither player ever led by more than one hole Bobby MASSA (USA) birdied the 23rd (5th) from 25 feet to finally beat Ashton MCCULLOCH (CAN).

Here are the Last 16 results: –

Round of 16 Results (Graphic: USGA)

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15th August 2024 – Morning

Match Play – Round 2 (32)

Here are the Round of 32 results: –

Round of 32 Results (Graphic: USGA)

Jackson BUCHANAN (USA), seeded 53rd, ended the hopes of WAGR No. 1 Luke CLANTON (USA) 21 with a narrow 1 Hole victory in the Round of 32.

European Amateur champion Tommy MORRISON (USA) 52 was also a casualty on Thursday morning, losing by 3&2 to Jacob MODLESKI (USA) 20 who led from the 2nd hole.

Whilst GB&I interest ended in this round (see below) Bastian AMAT (FRA) 17, Jose Luis BALLESTER (ESP) 47 and Luis MASAVEU (ESP) 3 kept European fires burning with solid wins.

Despite getting off to an excellent start which saw him 2Up after four holes Calum SCOTT (SCO) 36 succumbed to Omar MORALES (MEX) 61, a rising senior at UCLA 2023, by 3&2. Morales produced four birdies in a row from the 6th hole to completely turn the contest around. Scott immediately bounced back with two birdies of his own to tie the match up after 11 holes. However, two badly timed bogeys by the Nairn man on 12 and 13 handed back the initiative to the Mexican and ultimately proved to be insurmountable for him.

Morales v. Scott Match Play Round of 32 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA)

Phichaksn MAICHON (THA) 46, a rising senior at Texas A&M and WAGR ranked 25th, beat James ASHFIELD (WAL) by 4&2 in their Round of 32 game. 2-under after six holes Maichon sped into a 4Up lead and never looked back as his consistent play ended GB&I interest in this year’s U.S. Amateur Championship.

Maichon v. Ashfield Match Play Round of 32 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA)

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14th August 2024

Match Play – Round 1 (64)

Here are the Round of 64 results: –

Round of 64 Results (Graphic: USGA)

Conditions were tougher on Day 3 of the Championship with winds gusting up to 20mph and temperatures a little cooler.

13 of today’s 64 games went the full 18 holes with seven of these requiring extra holes.

Medalist Jimmy ELLIS (USA) lost to compatriot Ethan FANG by 2 Holes after the Oklahoma State student had come through the early morning play-off.

WAGR top 15 ranked players David FORD (USA), Ben JAMES (USA), Christiaan MAAS (RSA), Gordon SARGENT (USA), Preston SUMMERHAYS (USA) and Jackson VAN PARIS (USA) were all knocked out in the opening match play round.

Ominously for the rest of the field man-of-the-moment Luke CLANTON (USA), who became the WAGR No. 1 prior to going out, is through to the Round of 32 after a 4&3 win against Dylan MCDERMOTT (USA).

Calum SCOTT (SCO), seeded 36th, required 21 holes to beat Mahanth CHIRRAVURI (USA) 29, who is a rising junior at Pepperdine University and ranked 67th in WAGR. The Nairn man battled back well after a slow start which saw him 2Down after both four and nine holes. A par 5 on the 3rd hole, second time around, finally got the job done with Scott taking the lead for the first time in the game.

Chirravuri v. Scott Match Play Round of 64 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA)

The other remaining GB&I player, James ASHFIELD (WAL) 51, beat Matthew MANGANELLO (USA) 14, who has recently graduated from Fresno State University and is ranked 211th in WAGR, by 3&2. Like Calum Scott Ashfield got off to a poor start before consecutive birdies on 7, 8 and 9 enabled him to restore parity. Bogeys on 12 and 13 from the American handed the Welshman the advantage which he saw out comfortably.

Manganello v. Ashfield Match Play Round of 64 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA)

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14th August 2024

Stroke Play Qualifying – Play-Off

The 14-for-11 spots play-off commenced at 7.30am CDT (1.30pm BST) on the 10th and 17th holes at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

Luke COLTON (USA), Algot KLEEN (SWE) and Joseph LENANE (USA) were eliminated.

Stroke Play Qualifying – Play-Off Results (Graphic: USGA)

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13th August 2024

Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 2

39 year old Floridian Jimmy ELLIS (USA) was the surprise medalist at the 124th U.S. Amateur Championship. The Florida State Amateur champion shot a 61 (-9) at Chaska Town Course in Round 2 to post an impressive 132 (-10) total.

Ethan EVANS (USA) -9 earned the 2nd seeding, Luis MASAVEU (ESP) -7 the 3rd, David FORD (USA) -7 the 4th and overnight co-leader Paul CHANG (CHN) -7 the 5th.

After posting a 2-under 70 at Hazeltine Luke CLANTON (USA) finished on 139 (-3) to comfortably progress.

With conditions largely unchanged the two qualifying courses played similarly on both days. The average Round 2 score at Hazeltine was 76.2 (Round 1: 76.1) and at Chaska Town it was 71.5 (70.9).

The leading 64 player match play cut fell at 142 (Ev) with 14 competitors required to play-off for the final 11 spots tomorrow morning.

James ASHFIELD (WAL) and Calum SCOTT (SCO) were the only two GB&I players to advance to the Match Play Stage. They both finished on 141 (-1), tied 32nd, but as a blind draw is used to decide ties in the Stroke Play Qualifying were eventually seeded 15 places apart. The R&A use a combined back nine count back approach to ties where two qualifying courses are used in their Championships.

Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) produced one of the best rounds of the Stroke Play Qualifying competition, a 2-under 70 at Hazeltine National which included four birdies. Sadly he had left himself too much to do and missed out by 1-shot on the play-off.

Connor GRAHAM (SCO) got off to a bad start at Hazeltine National in Round 2, dropping 3-shots in his opening four holes, but despite battling back well for a 75 missed out.

Rhode-Island based Bobby LEOPOLD (ENG) shot a 1-under 69 at Chaska Town Course but his +2 aggregate total always looked like being too high.

Ireland’s Matt MCCLEAN and Max KENNEDY, who both started the day tied 24th, will be disappointed to have missed out after making too many mistakes at Hazeltine National in Round 2.

GB&I Stroke Play Qualifying Results (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying Results

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12th August 2024

Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 1

On a perfect day for golf Paul CHANG (CHN), 23, and Tom FISCHER (USA), 20, both shot 6-under 64’s at Chaska Town Course to take the Round 1 lead in the Stroke Play Qualifying.

Only 19 of the 156 competitors beat the par of 72 at Hazeltine National G.C. in Round 1 whilst 63 of the other 156 did so at Chaska Town Course, which is nearly 700 yards shorter than it’s big brother. The stroke average at Hazeltine was 76.1 on Day 1 whilst at Chaska Town it was 70.9.

Luke CLANTON (USA) who finished 5th at the Wyndham Championship after playing 39 holes in North Carolina on Sunday and flew overnight up to Minnesota showed no ill effects carding a 69 (-1) at Chaska Town.

Leading Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1 Scores (Graphic: USGA)

James ASHFIELD (WAL) and Calum SCOTT (SCO), who are tied 11th, were both amongst a small group of three players that recorded a 69 (-3), the best score, on the tougher Hazeltine National course.

Irish pair Matt MCCLEAN (-2 at Chaska) and Max KENNEDY (-2 at Hazeltine), tied 24th, Scotland’s Connor GRAHAM (-1 at Chaska), tied 49th, and England’s Jack BIGHAM (Ev at Hazeltine), tied 83rd, also laid strong foundations for qualification on Day 1.

GB&I Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1 Scores (Graphic: USGA)

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7th August 2024

Introduction

The 124th U.S. Amateur Championship is being played at Hazeltine National Golf Club and Chaska Town Course in Chaska, Minnesota on 12th-18th August 2024.

Administered by the United States Golf Association (USGA) the U.S. Amateur is the most important and prestigious individual competition in the amateur golf calendar.

2024 Field

4,970 entries were received by the USGA for this year’s Championship.

312 players from 36 different countries will be competing. 143 were exempt with the remaining 169 coming through qualifying.

Exemptions are granted based on past performances in previous amateur championships, selection for the Walker Cup teams and World Amateur Golf Rankings.

In a change to previous years 45 Local Qualifying events, all played over 18 holes, were staged between 4th June and 3rd July before 19 Final Qualifying competitions, again over 18 holes, took place between 25th-31st July.

Click here to view the – 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship Local Qualifying Results

Click here to view the – 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship Final Qualifying Results

The youngest player is Jade Soong (USA) who is 14 years old and the oldest Rusty Strawn (USA) who is 61.

There are ten Great British & Irish (GB&I) players in the 2024 field. They are: –

James ASHFIELD (WAL) 23 – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2023 / WAGR Top 100 May 2024
Jack BIGHAM (ENG) 20 – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2023 / WAGR Top 100 May 2024
Harry CROCKETT (ENG) 22 – Final Qualifying: Lake Forest G.&C.C. Missouri
Connor GRAHAM (SCO) 17 – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2023
Max KENNEDY (IRL) 23 – Exemption: WAGR Top 100 May 2024
Bobby LEOPOLD (ENG) 39 – Exemption: Rhode Island Amateur champion 2024
Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) 31 – Exemption: U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion 2022 / Top 8 WATC 2023 / Walker Cup GB&I Team 2023 / WAGR Top 100 May 2024
Calum SCOTT (SCO) 20 – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2023 / WAGR Top 100 May 2024
Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) 19 – Final Qualifying: Bend G.C., Oregon
Tyler WEAVER (ENG) 19 – Exemption: WAGR Top 100 May 2024

Sam EASTERBROOK (ENG), who just missed out in Final Qualifying at Aldeen G.C. in Illinois, was an Alternate but was not called up by the USGA.

There were 8 GB&I players at Cherry Hills last year, 9 at Ridgewood in 2022, 5 at Oakmont in 2021, 11 at Bandon Dunes in 2020, 11 at Pinehurst in 2019, 7 at Pebble Beach in 2018, 9 at Riviera in 2017 and 11 at Oakland Hills in 2016.

Stroke Play Qualifying Tee Times (Round 1 / Round 2)

1 – 1st hole  /  10 – 10th hole /  C – Chaska Town Course  /  H – Hazeltine National G.C
Time Difference – Chaska, Minnesota BST – 6 hours

Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) – 10C 7.22am / 1H 12.52pm
James ASHFIELD (WAL) -1H 7.44am / 10C 1.14pm
Calum SCOTT (SCO) – 1H  7.55am / 10C 1.25pm
Jack BIGHAM (ENG) – 10H 8.17am / 1C 1.36pm
Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) – 1C 8.17am / 10H 1.47pm
Max KENNEDY (IRL) – 10C 8.28am / 1H 1.58pm
Harry CROCKETT (ENG) – 10C 12.30pm / 1H 7.00am
Tyler WEAVER (ENG) – 1H 12.52pm / 10C 7.22am
Connor GRAHAM (SCO) – 1C 1.58am / 10H 8.28am
Bobby LEOPOLD (ENG) – 10H 2.09pm / 1C 8.39am

Click here to view the full – 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship SP Qualifying Tee Times

Format / Schedule

36-holes of stroke play (SP) will determine the top 64 match play (MP) qualifiers. Ties for the last qualifying place will be resolved by a sudden death play-off.

Six 18 hole MP rounds will then be played culminating in a 36-hole Championship Final. Extra holes will be played to resolve any halved games.

Monday 12th August – SP Qualifying Round 1 (Hazeltine and Chaska – 18 holes)
Tuesday 13th August – SP Qualifying Round 2 (Hazeltine and Chaska – 18 holes)
Wednesday 14th August – SP Qualifying Play-Off / MP Round of 64 (Hazeltine – 18 holes)
Thursday 15th August – MP Rounds of 32 and 16 (Hazeltine – 18 holes)
Friday 16th August – MP Quarter Finals (Hazeltine – 18 holes)
Saturday 17th August – MP Semi-Finals (Hazeltine – 18 holes)
Sunday 18th August – MP Championship Final (Hazeltine – 36 holes)

Host Courses

Both courses, which are 3 miles apart, are located north of Chaska in the mid-west state of Minnesota.

Hazeltine National Golf Club – stroke play and match play
7,552 yards / Par 72

Located in Chaska it opened in 1962.
Originally designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. with recent renovations by Rees Jones and Love Design.
It has previously hosted the U.S. Women’s Open in 1966 and 1977, the U.S. Open in 1970 (Tony Jacklin) and 1991 (Payne Stewart), the U.S. Senior Open in 1983, the U.S. Mid-Amateur in 1994, the PGA Championship in 2002 and 2009, the U.S. Amateur in 2006 (Richie Ramsay), the Ryder Cup in 2016 and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2019.

Chaska Town Couirse – stroke play co-host
6,804 yards / Par 70

Located in Chaska it opened in 1997.
Designed by Arthur Hills.
In the Stroke Play Qualifying at the 2006 U.S. Amateur medalist Billy Horschel (USA) shot a USGA 18-hole record 60 (-10) at Chaska.

Weather Forecast (as at 7th August 2024)

The weather forecast looks ideal for the whole Championship week with sunny conditions and no wind to speak of.

Stroke Play Qualifying
Mon 12th August – Sunny / Wind 4mph NE / Temp. Min. 13°C, Max. 25°C.
Tues 13th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 6mph SE / Temp. Min. 15°C, Max. 25°C.

Match Play Stage
Weds 14th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 6mph SE / Temp. Min. 16°C, Max. 26°C.
Thurs 15th August – Showers / Wind 7mph SE  / Temp. Min. 17°C, Max. 27°C.
Fri 16th August – Cloudy / Wind 7mph SE  / Temp. Min. 17°C, Max. 26°C.
Sat 17th August – Cloudy / Wind 4mph SE / Temp. Min. 16°C, Max. 26°C.
Sun 18th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 6mph SE / Temp. Min. 16°C, Max. 27°C.

Prizes

The 2024 U.S. Amateur champion will receive the following: –

a) A gold medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the following year;
b) An exemption to play in the 2025 U.S. Open which is being staged at Oakmont C.C.;

and assuming they remain amateur,
c) An invitation to play in the 2025 Masters at Augusta National G.C.;
d) An exemption to play in the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush G.C.;
e) An exemption to play in the 2025-2034 U.S. Amateur Championships;

and unofficially

f) Various invitations to play in PGA Tour and DP World Tour events.

A Silver Medal is awarded to the runner-up and Bronze Medals to the two losing semi-finalists.

A Silver Medal is also awarded to the stroke play medalist(s).

The original silver Havemeyer Trophy was presented to the U.S.G.A. on March 1895 in honour of the Association’s first President Theodore A. Havemeyer. This was lost in a fire at Bobby Jones’ home club, East Lake, in 1925.

A new gold trophy was produced in 1926. This was retired in 1992 with a copy of the trophy being produced and passed from champion to champion ever since. Sadly the original gold trophy was stolen from the U.S.G.A. Museum in 2012 and has never been seen since.

US Amateur Information

Click here to view the – 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship Official Website

Spectators / Television Coverage

Some highlights of the SP Qualifying will be shown on the USGA website and social media channels.

In the USA Peacock and Golf Channel will be covering the MP stage.

In the UK Sky Sports Golf normally takes the U.S. television feed, via the Red Button, over the final match play weekend.

2023 U.S. Amateur Championship

Nick DUNLAP (USA), who was 19 at the time, won the 123rd U.S. Amateur Championship in Denver beating Neal SHIPLEY (USA) by 4&3 in the 36-hole Final at Cherry Hills G.C.

Nick Dunlap with the Havemeyer Trophy (Photo: USGA)

Dunlap became only the second player to win both the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Amateur Championships, following in the footsteps of Tiger Woods. Of course Woods amazingly won each Championship three times in six consecutive years between 1991-96.

Calum SCOTT (SCO) was the most successful GB&I player. He lost on the 20th Hole to the eventual runner-up Neal SHIPLEY (USA).

Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) was the only other GB&I player to make the Match Play Stage. He lost by 1 Hole to China’s Andi XU in the Round of 64.

Click here to view the full – 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Results

Scott 139 (-4) finished tied 10th in the Stroke Play Qualifying to secure the 15th match play seeding whilst McClean 143 (Ev) tied for 50th place, taking the 58th seed.

Barclay BROWN (ENG) 147 (+4), Mark POWER (IRL) 148 (+5), Conor GOUGH (ENG) 151 (+8), Jonathan BALE (WAL) 152 (+9), John GOUGH (ENG) 154 (+11) and Hugh FOLEY (IRL) 155 (+12) all missed the cut after their rounds at Cherry Hills G.C. and Colorado Golf Club.

Click here to view the full – 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying Leaderboard

U.S. Amateur Championship History

The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and 2024 will see its 124th playing.

It was first played in 1895, the winner being Charles B. Macdonald.

It has always been decided by match play save for an 8 year period between 1965 and 1972 when the winner was determined solely by stroke play.

Former U.S. winners include Walter Travis (1900-01-03), Jerome Travers (1907-08-12-13), Bobby Jones (1924-25-27-28-30), Francis Ouimet (1914-31), W. Lawson Little (1934-35) Arnold Palmer (1954), Jack Nicklaus (1959-61), Deane Beman (1960-63), Lanny Wadkins (1970), Craig Stadler (1973), Mark O’Meara (1979), Hal Sutton (1980), Phil Mickelson (1990), Justin Leonard (1992), Tiger Woods (1994-95-96), Matt Kucher (1997), Ryan Moore (2004) and Bryson DeChambeau (2015).

The last five winners, 2023-2019, have been Nick Dunlap (USA), Sam Bennett (USA), James Piot (USA), Tyler Strafaci (USA) and Andy Ogletree (USA).

British players have won the Championship on six occasions but just twice in the last 100 years – H.J. Whigham (1896-97), Findlay Douglas (1898), Harold Hilton (1911), Richie Ramsay (2006) and Matthew Fitzpatrick (2013).

Matthew Fitzpatrick (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

Italy’s Edoardo Molinari (2005) and Norway’s Viktor Hovland (2018) are the only players from the Continent of Europe to have lifted the Havemeyer Trophy.

Click here to view the full list of past – U.S. Amateur Champions

Future U.S. Amateur Venues

For reasons I have never understood the USGA continue to allocate their Championship venues far out into the future: –

125th – 11-17 August 2025 – The Olympic Club, San Francisco, California
126th – 10-16 August 2026 – Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania
127th – 09-15 August 2027 – Oak Hill Country Club, Pittsford, New York
128th – TBD   August 2028 – Whistling Straits Golf Club, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
129th – 13-19 August 2029 – Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio
130th – 12-18 August 2030 – Atlanta Athletic Club, Johns Creek, Georgia
131st – 11-17 August 2031 – Honors Course, Ooltewah, Tennessee
132nd – 09-15 August 2032 – Bandon Dunes, Bandon, Oregon
133rd – 15-21 August 2033 – Chambers Bay, University Place, Washington
134th – TBD August 2034 – The Country Club, Brookline, Massachusetts
135th – TBD
136th – TBD August 2036 – Scioto Country Club, Upper Arlington, Ohio
137th – TBD
138th – TBD August 2038 – Pinehurst Resort No. 2, Pinehurst, North Carolina
139th – TBD
140th – TBD
141st – TBD August 2041 – Bandon Dunes, Bandon, Oregon
147th – TBD August 2047 – Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
151st – TBD August 2051 – Saucon Valley Country Club, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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Copyright © 2014-2024, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.