Monthly Archives: July 2021
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort to Host 13 USGA Championships
USGA Comunnication.
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (July 20, 2021) – The USGA and Bandon Dunes Golf Resort today announced an agreement that will bring 13 USGA amateur championships to the resort over 23 years. The relationship will begin with the 74th U.S. Junior Amateur in 2022 and run through the 2045 U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior Championships, with eight different championships being played at the resort, including the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women’s Amateur, the Walker Cup Match and the Curtis Cup Match.
The 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur will be conducted from July 25-30, with Bandon Dunes serving as the host course for both stroke play and match play, and Bandon Trails serving as the second stroke-play course. Dates and courses for the other championships will be announced in the future.
The resort will host both the U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Amateur in 2032 and again in 2041, marking the first time those two original USGA championships will be contested on the same site in the same calendar year. The resort will also host the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior in 2045, which will mark the fourth time those championships will be conducted at the same facility in the same year. The agreement also includes the 2029 Walker Cup Match and the 2038 Curtis Cup Match.
“With five championship-caliber courses and incredible support from the resort’s ownership, Bandon Dunes is the perfect location for these USGA championships,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA senior managing director of Championships. “Mike Keiser has been an incredible advocate for amateur golf and his ongoing support for the USGA and our mission served as the vision for this partnership. We are excited to work together for years to come.”
The 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship will be the first U.S. Junior Amateur and eighth USGA championship hosted by the resort, making Bandon Dunes the first site to host eight different USGA championships. It will be the 39th USGA championship held in Oregon.
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort previously hosted the 2006 Curtis Cup Match (Pacific Dunes), the 2007 U.S. Mid-Amateur (Bandon Dunes), the 2011 U.S. Amateur Public Links and U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links (Old Macdonald and Bandon Trails), the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball (Pacific Dunes), 2019 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball (Old Macdonald and Pacific Dunes), and the 2020 U.S. Amateur (Bandon Dunes and Bandon Trails).
“I love amateur golf. What the USGA does for amateur golf and to grow the game is exceptional. I built Bandon Dunes for all amateurs to enjoy the great experiences and spirited competition that golf provides, and we are thrilled to be hosting the USGA’s signature amateur championships for years to come,” said Mike Keiser, the owner of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. “We are particularly grateful to Mike Davis, who has been an advocate for Bandon Dunes since the resort’s earliest days. Amateur golf will always have a place at Bandon Dunes, and this commitment from the USGA is significant. We welcome all the great championships that the USGA will bring to the resort as Bandon Dunes is the home of amateur golf.”
The 73rd U.S. Junior Amateur Championship is being played this week at the Country Club of North Carolina in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.
Future USGA Championships at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort:
2022 U.S. Junior Amateur
2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur
2029 Walker Cup Match
2032 U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women’s Amateur
2035 U.S. Girls’ Junior
2037 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball and U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball
2038 Curtis Cup Match
2041 U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women’s Amateur
2045 U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior
About the USGA
The USGA is a nonprofit organization that celebrates, serves and advances the game of golf. Founded in 1894, we conduct many of golf’s premier professional and amateur championships, including the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open. With The R&A, we govern the sport via a global set of playing, equipment, handicapping and amateur status rules. The USGA campus in Liberty Corner, New Jersey, is home to the Association’s Research and Test Center, where science and innovation are fueling a healthy and sustainable game for the future. The campus is also home to the USGA Golf Museum, where we honor the game by curating the world’s most comprehensive archive of golf artifacts. To learn more, visit usga.org.
About Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
Bandon Dunes is golf as it was meant to be. Located on Oregon’s rugged southern coast, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort offers six distinct golf courses modeled after the great links courses of Scotland, England and Ireland. Players immerse themselves in the traditions of a timeless game and the grandeur of Oregon’s breathtaking coastline. The soul of the game resides here with classic concepts of golf course design. Players walk and gracious hospitality comforts each guest like a warm, friendly embrace. The resort features secluded accommodations and six restaurants to serve guests. Founded in 1999, Bandon Dunes is owned by Mike Keiser and managed by KemperSports.
ROUND 2 NOTES – LPGA PROFESSIONALS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY VOICE CADDIE
Written By:LPGA Communications
After the second round of the 2021 LPGA Professionals National Championship presented by Voice Caddie, Alisa Rodriguez (Austin, Texas) leads the way at -4. Four players sit tied for second at -2: first-round leader Allie Knight (Knoxville, Tenn.), Ashley Grier (Villanova, Pa.), defending champion Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth (Fleming Island, Fla.), and Sandra Changkija (Kissimmee, Fla.). A total of 33 players made the cut at 17-over par.
Rodriguez, a PGA Professional who works as the lead instructor at Balcones Country Club, came into day two in a tie for third. She recorded two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine but fired a 3-under 32 on the back to take the lead. “I was hitting the ball really well,” said Rodriguez. “I’ve been hitting my irons really good the past couple of weeks. Today I finally hit my driver in the fairway, and I was able to make a couple putts coming in for a solid score today. [Playing Kingsmill is] incredible. The greens are rolling really well, and it’s just nice to play at another place where they play an LPGA event.”
The top-eight finishers in the Championship division will earn exemptions into the 2022 KPMG PGA Women’s Championship, to be held June 21-26 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. Rodriguez, Knight, Grier, Connelly Eiswerth and Changkija all competed in the 2021 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Atlantic Athletic Club after finishing in the top eight at last year’s PGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The 2020 LPGA Professionals National Championship was canceled due to COVID-19.
“To go back would be incredible. I had two juniors come and watch me play at the KPMG and to show them that I can do it, it’s really cool for them to keep pushing themselves and hopefully they’ll be able to play professionally one day too,” said Rodriguez, who made her first LPGA start at the 2021 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. “I’m just trying to take it one shot at a time and one hole at a time, and to get myself in the position to have a chance tomorrow, that’s exactly where I wanted to be coming in.”
HIRST MAINTAINS ONE-STROKE LEAD IN CHALLENGE DIVISION
First-round Challenge division leader Charlaine Hirst (Pinehurst, N.C.) continued to sit atop the leaderboard after the second day at the LPGA Professionals National Championship presented by Voice Caddie. Hirst, who is vying for her fourth-straight title, said she is having a wonderful experience at Kingsmill Resort despite some up-and-down golf. The bonding time with her daughter, her caddie for the week, remains the cherry on top.
“Day two was a struggle from the get-go. I hit the driver really well, but I could not get the fairway clubs going, which I had really good shots with yesterday. And the putting was good today, but I missed a lot of makeable birdies and putts,” said Hirst. “[But being with my daughter] was just as good, if not better. I just had a good time and a good group, so it was a nice relaxing day. And my pro-am team stayed one more day, so I was more relaxed today versus yesterday where I was a little tighter.”
For Monday’s round, Charlaine and Allie Hirst prepped with some evening shopping. As the mother-daughter duo set the sights on the final day, Charlaine said they’ll stick to a similar gameplan.
“I’m going to go shopping again, that’s my instructions,” said Hirst. “And we have to hit a thrift store today in addition. But I’m just going to do what I did [yesterday] – go sit in the hot tub, go down the lazy river, and then go roll some putts tomorrow. Just got to make them when they need to be made.”
Louise Ball (Knoxville, Tenn.), Stephanie Peareth (Homestead, Fla.) and Lieschen Wienke (Bloomington, Ill.) sit tied for second. Peareth, an LPGA Professional and Site Director for LPGA*USGA Girls Golf – Miami, has Girls Golf eLeader Sara Matos on her bag. Originally from England, Peareth was channeling a bit of Solheim Cup spirit on the course as she and Sara donned Team Europe and Team USA outfits.
“We decided to go Team Steph and Sara Solheim Cup theme today, so we’re Team Europe and Team USA. I tried to get some Europe luck out there on the golf course,” said Peareth. “I couldn’t scare the hole if I tried, but other than that I’m solid. I’m really happy with how my game showed up the last couple of days. I got tired a little bit on the back nine, but no disasters so that’s a new one for me. I’m very excited to be in this position.”
SECOND-ROUND PLAY SUSPENDED FOR SENIOR DIVISION
The second round of the LPGA Professionals National Championship presented by Voice Caddie was suspended at 3:48 p.m. due to inclement weather moving into the area. Play was officially called at 6:28 p.m. as conditions did not improve.
Play will resume Tuesday at 8 a.m. The final round for the Championship and Challenge divisions will begin off No. 1 and No. 10 at 10 a.m. Once the Senior division completes the second round of play, the cut will be determined and players re-paired for the final round beginning at 11:00 a.m. of No. 1 and No. 10.
The 2016 Championship division winner Lisa Grimes (Gold Canyon, Ariz.) holds a two-shot lead over 2018 Senior division winner Barbara Moxness (Rio Verde, Ariz.) through 27 holes.
The top-eight finishers in the Senior division will qualify for the 2022 Senior LPGA Championship presented by Old National Bank as well as any competitors over age 45 who finish in the top 10 in the Championship division. Additionally, the top-five finishers in the Championship division and top-three finishers in the Senior division at least 50 years of age will qualify for the 2022 U.S. Senior Women’s Open.
NOTABLE QUOTES
Ashley Grier (T2, -2) on her putting during the second round:
“My putting saved me today, which was nice. I had played with my dad a week or so ago and I hadn’t played with him in years. He was putting so good, so I stole a tip from him, and it’s been saving me this week for sure.”
Allie Knight (T2, -2) on the opportunity for LPGA and PGA Professionals to compete at this level:
“It’s awesome. It’s just a great opportunity to get into an LPGA major. That’s huge and you can’t beat that.”
Stephanie Peareth (T2, +9) on competing at Kingsmill Resort
“Oh, it’s absolutely beautiful. The golf course is great, I had an incredible playing group and it’s an absolutely gorgeous golf course. It’s a nice little breeze, but it’s in great condition. It’s been a pleasure.”
SOLHEIM CUP ADDS BMW CELEBRITY MATCH TO EVENT WEEK
Written By:LPGA Communications
Written By:LPGA Communications
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., July 27, 2021 – Solheim Cup organizers and BMW announced today the creation of the BMW Celebrity Match during the week of the 2021 Solheim Cup, which will take place at Inverness Club from August 31 – September 6 in Toledo, Ohio. The celebrity match will be held on Thursday, September 2 at 2 p.m. at Inverness Club, with celebrities and players battling for the inaugural crown.
“We are excited to be able to bring the BMW Celebrity Match at the Solheim Cup to life during event week,” said Solheim Cup tournament director Becky Newell. “The match was designed with fans in mind as a way to elevate the experience for those attending the Solheim Cup, and we’re looking forward to watching these players try their hand at Inverness Club as a kickoff to one of women’s golf’s most distinguished team events.”
The celebrity match will have two teams teeing off No. 10 in a scramble format. Three-time U.S. Solheim Cup team captain and 31-time LPGA Tour winner, Juli Inkster, and six-time U.S. Team member and major champion Morgan Pressel are among the participants, as well as Radio Hall of Fame host and former NFL defensive lineman, Mike Golic.
One of the teams will also be captained by none other than multi-Platinum selling and three-time GRAMMY Award-winning country artist, Darius Rucker.
“The Solheim Cup is a prestigious event that I always enjoy watching as a fan of great golf,” said Rucker. “I’m honored to be on the same course as these talented players and can’t wait for some friendly competition in the celebrity match!”
The BMW Celebrity Match is open to anyone attending the Solheim Cup on September 2. Tickets can be found at www.solheimcupusa.com, with additional participants to be announced in the coming weeks. Along with the celebrity match, BMW becomes an official partner of the Solheim Cup as the official vehicle for the event.
With a full week of action set to take place at the 2021 Solheim Cup, fans can also purchase various ticket and hospitality packages to enjoy every activity in Toledo at Inverness Club. New in 2021 is the Meijer Pavilion, which will give ticketholders a 300-degree view of the surrounding holes and upgraded food and beverage options, with local bands playing everyday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The 2021 Solheim Cup event will take place Sept. 4-6 at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. U.S. Captain Pat Hurst, along with Assistant Captains Angela Stanford and Michelle Wie West will lead the best players from the United States as they look to reclaim the Solheim Cup on home soil. Europe will once again be helmed by Captain Catriona Matthew, with Vice Captains Laura Davies, Kathryn Imrie and Suzann Pettersen by her side. The U.S. and European teams will be finalized following the 2021 AIG Women’s Open.
Reigning Olympic Gold Medalist Inbee Park’s Advice for Amateur Golfers
By Brendon Elliott, PGA
In Bee’s Advice for Amateur Golfers…
“Just try to enjoy the game above all else! Obviously, good results always help make you enjoy the game even more, so try to do some range work and practice before you go out to play. This warms you up and loosen the swing up before you start the round. Other than that, enjoy it and don’t try to do too much work…just enjoy and have fun above all else!”
What may change in your preparation during a major championship week like this past week?
“I try to not change anything. I always try to do the same routine I do with other weeks. When I try to do something extra for a Major it just puts extra pressure on me, and the results don’t always follow as good. I try to just keep the same mind set as if it were just any other week, and the same prep as any other week.”
What does your preparation look like for Tokyo?
“I just came off playing 3 events and will now have a little bit of time off at home before heading to Tokyo. I have been playing so I’m feeling good about my game rather than feeling rusty. I’d take feeling a little tired from playing rather than being rusty, so that’s why I decided to play tournaments in advance to prepare.”
Former teammates Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes team up for Canada in Tokyo
By Sean Martin, PGATOUR.COM
They were early in their careers. The pressure of trying to win a trophy meant there was less conversation than at your local library. The 12-13 age division of a provincial competition hardly compares to the tournaments that Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes play now, but try explaining that to them back in 2004.
“It was pretty much impossible to get a word out of him,” Hughes recalled recently. Conners’ stone-faced approach worked, as he beat the older Hughes that day.
Seventeen years later, they still remember that day. They’re still competing against each other but the years spent together on Golf Canada’s national team, at Kent State University and now the PGA TOUR have forged a strong friendship.
And now, the two kids who grew up about 90 miles apart in Ontario are representing Canada in the Olympics.
Conners, 29, is still the quiet type, but his ball-striking speaks for itself. There are only three players who rank inside the top 10 of both Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and Approach-the-Green on the PGA TOUR this season. They are Conners, World No. 1 Jon Rahm and four-time major winner Brooks Koepka. Conners is the only player to rank in the top 15 of both statistics in each of the past three seasons.
“His rhythm doesn’t change from the first swing Thursday to the last one on Sunday,” Hughes said.
Hughes, on the other hand, shows a bit more emotion and his short game is his specialty, just as it was when he first met Conners.
“He seemed like a fierce competitor, really a grinder,” Conners said about their first meeting. “I’d still give him those grades.”
Hughes, 30, was the only player to rank inside the top 10 in both Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green and Putting last season. He’s so confident in his prowess on the greens that he’s used the same putter for almost his entire pro career.
Conners and Hughes would seemingly make a perfect team for alternate shot. “If Corey hit it and Mackenzie chipped and putted, they’d never lose,” said their college coach, Herb Page. That is a conversation that can be tabled until next year’s Presidents Cup in Hughes’ adopted hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, however. Having both cracked the top 50 in the world ranking this year and contended in major championships, they’re strong candidates to represent the International Team for the first time in 2022.
This week, they’re playing for their country. There is no team format in the Olympics but there are still benefits to having a friend at Kasumigaseki Country Club; it provides some comfort to a week where COVID protocols limit social interaction, especially outside of competition.
“We’re both pretty structured and pretty disciplined,” Hughes said. “Our approach to how we get better, and doing the little stuff right, there’s a lot of similarities between us and I think that has helped us in getting along.”
Conners comes from the small town of Listowel, Ontario, with a population of approximately 7,500 people. He started playing golf at the Listowel Golf Club, where he worked in the cart barn and pro shop. Hughes grew up in Hamilton and took up the game at age 7, after his parents decided to give it a try. He used to spend hours on a par-3 course, which may explain the short-game skills.
Hughes was the first to Kent State. Conners followed two years later. Both players saw dramatic improvement in their four years at the Ohio school. Page, who’s also from Canada, lettered in golf, hockey and football for the Golden Flashes and became the school’s golf coach at just 26 years old. He held the job for four decades, and former Open Championship winner Ben Curtis also is among his former players.
“Coach was great about taking the things you do well and refining them,” Hughes said. “And he’s very big on keeping you accountable off the golf course. His overall style of coaching just tends to make guys better.”
It worked for both Hughes and Conners, who each had scoring averages over 75 in his freshman year.
“They just got better and better every year,” Page said. Conners added length to his tee shots after barely carrying them 240 yards when he arrived on campus, Hughes recalled. Page didn’t mess with the bent left elbow on Conners’ backswing that is unconventional but contributes to his accuracy. Page convinced Hughes to be easier on himself on the course, an attitude change that paid big dividends.
Hughes graduated in 2012 as a two-time Canadian Amateur champion. Conners earned his degree two years later after making the semifinals of the 2013 U.S. Amateur and finishing runner-up a year later. He also won the prestigious Jones Cup in 2014, an event also won by U.S. Olympians Justin Thomas and Patrick Reed.
Both Hughes and Conners continued their progression as pros, working their way through PGA TOUR Latinoamerica, PGA TOUR Canada and the Korn Ferry Tour before earning their PGA TOUR card. Hughes won the 2016 RSM Classic in his fifth start of his first TOUR season, just months after he was playing Monday qualifiers for Korn Ferry Tour events.
Conners had conditional TOUR status when he won the 2019 Valero Texas Open. He was the first Monday qualifier to win on TOUR in nine years.
Now they’ve taken the next step in their career by contending in majors. Conners has finished in the top 10 at the past two Masters. Hughes played in the final group of this year’s U.S. Open, eventually finishing 15th. Hughes and Conners both started the final round of the last major, The Open, in the top six. Hughes went on to record his best finish in a major (T6) while Conners finished T15.
“We have a lot in common, both humble beginnings, working hard at kind of a local golf course, developing our games, playing in junior tournaments and being on the national team together,” Conners said. “We’re very similar in our work ethic, in our preparation, our thinking about the game. We’ve just shared so many experiences together, have so much in common with our progress through the game.”
This won’t be the first time they’ve represented Canada together in a foreign land. They led Canada to a sixth-place finish in the 2012 World Amateur Team Championship in Turkey.
Hughes will be playing in Japan for the first time. Conners was medalist in the 2010 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan, a victory that he described as a “big momentum boost” for his career. Conners also helped Canada to a second-place finish in the 2014 World Amateur Team Championship in Japan. More recently, he was sixth in the PGA TOUR’S ZOZO Championship, where Tiger Woods won his record-tying 82nd PGA TOUR title.
Now Conners and Hughes will make their Olympic debut. They’ve come a long way from their first meeting.
USGA’s $45M GOLF COURSE SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH PROGRAM RENAMED TO HONOR OUTGOING CEO MIKE DAVIS
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USGA Announces Tee Times for 121st U.S. Open Championship
By USGA Communications.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (June 15, 2021) – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced tee times for the first two rounds of the 2021 U.S. Open Championship, Thursday (June 17) and Friday (June 18), at 7,652-yard, par-71 Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course), in San Diego, Calif.
The U.S. Open is a 72-hole, stroke-play competition. A field of 156 players will play 18 holes of stroke play on June 17 and 18, after which the field will be reduced to the low 60 scores and ties. Those players making the cut will play 18 holes on June 19 and 20. If there is a tie upon the completion of 72 holes, a two-hole aggregate playoff will immediately follow. If this playoff results in a tie, the tied players will immediately continue to play off hole-by-hole until the winner is determined.
All Times PDT
Thursday (June 17), Hole #1 / Friday (June 18), Hole #10
6:45 a.m. / 12:30 p.m. – Sahith Theegala, Chino Hills, Calif.; Edoardo Molinari, Italy; Greyson Sigg, Augusta, Ga.
6:56 a.m. / 12:41 p.m. – Chris Baker, Brownstown, Ind.; J.J. Spaun, Los Angeles, Calif.; Fabian Gomez, Argentina
7:07 a.m. / 12:52 p.m. – Patrick Rodgers, Jupiter, Fla.; Robby Shelton, Birmingham, Ala.; (a) Pierceson Coody, Plano, Texas
7:18 a.m. / 1:03 p.m. – Russell Henley, Columbus, Ga.; Mackenzie Hughes, Canada; Harris English, Sea Island, Ga.
7:29 a.m. / 1:14 p.m. – Francesco Molinari, Italy; Henrik Stenson, Sweden; Shane Lowry, Ireland
7:40 a.m. / 1:25 p.m. – Matt Fitzpatrick, England; Tyrrell Hatton, England; Viktor Hovland, Norway
7:51 a.m. / 1:36 p.m. – Martin Kaymer, Germany; Webb Simpson, Charlotte, N.C.; Gary Woodland, Topeka, Kan.
8:02 a.m. / 1:47 p.m. – Tony Finau, Salt Lake City, Utah; Abraham Ancer, Mexico; Daniel Berger, Jupiter, Fla.
8:13 a.m. / 1:58 p.m. – Si Woo Kim, Republic of Korea; Kevin Na, Las Vegas, Nev.; Bernd Wiesberger, Austria
8:24 a.m. / 2:09 p.m. – Jimmy Walker, San Antonio, Texas; Ian Poulter, England; Ryan Palmer, Colleyville, Texas
8:35 a.m. / 2:20 p.m. – J.T. Poston, Sea Island, Ga.; Adam Hadwin, Canada; (a) Joe Long, England
8:46 a.m. / 2:31 p.m. – Luis Fernando Barco, Peru; Dylan Meyer, Evansville, Ind.; (a) Matthew Sharpstene, Charlotte, N.C.
8:57 a.m. / 2:42 p.m. – Mario Carmona, Mexico; Wilson Furr, Jackson, Miss.; Davis Shore, Knoxville, Tenn.
Thursday (June 17), Hole #10 / Friday (June 18), Hole #1
6:45 a.m. / 12:30 p.m. – Andy Pope, Glen Ellyn, Ill.; Brad Kennedy, Australia; Thomas Aiken, South Africa
6:56 a.m. / 12:41 p.m. – Yosuke Asaji, Japan; Marcus Armitage, England; Jhonattan Vegas, Venezuela
7:07 a.m. / 12:52 p.m. – Cameron Young, Jupiter, Fla.; Wilco Nienaber, South Africa; Guido Migliozzi, Italy
7:18 a.m. / 1:03 p.m. – Brian Harman, Sea Island, Ga.; Tommy Fleetwood, England; Matthew Wolff, Agoura Hills, Calif.
7:29 a.m. / 1:14 p.m. – Collin Morikawa, La Canada, Calif.; Justin Thomas, Louisville, Ky.; Brooks Koepka, West Palm Beach, Fla.
7:40 a.m. / 1:25 p.m. – Kevin Kisner, Aiken, S.C.; Billy Horschel, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; Matt Kuchar, Sea Island, Ga.
7:51 a.m. / 1:36 p.m. – Max Homa, Valencia, Calif.; Xander Schauffele, San Diego, Calif.; Phil Mickelson, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
8:02 a.m. / 1:47 p.m. – Jason Kokrak, Hudson, Ohio; Cameron Champ, Sacramento, Calif.; Corey Conners, Canada
8:13 a.m. / 1:58 p.m. – Paul Barjon, France; Sam Ryder, Atlantic Beach, Fla.; Ryo Ishikawa, Japan
8:24 a.m. / 2:09 p.m. – Dylan Frittelli, South Africa; Martin Laird, Scotland; K.H. Lee, Republic of Korea
8:35 a.m. / 2:20 p.m. – Rafa Cabrera Bello, Spain; Adrian Meronk, Poland; Sung Kang, Republic of Korea
8:46 a.m. / 2:31 p.m. – Akshay Bhatia, Wake Forest, N.C.; (a) Andrew Kozan, West Palm Beach, Fla.; Alvaro Ortiz, Mexico
8:57 a.m. / 2:42 p.m. – James Hervol, Hopkinton, Mass.; Hayden Springer, Trophy Club, Texas; Roy Cootes, Rolling Hills, Calif.
Thursday (June 17), Hole #1 / Friday (June 18), Hole #10
12:30 p.m. / 6:45 a.m. – Zach Zaback, Farmington, Conn.; Steve Allan, Australia; Eric Cole, Delray Beach, Fla.
12:41 p.m. / 6:56 a.m. – Hayden Buckley, Tupelo, Miss.; Taylor Montgomery, Las Vegas, Nev.; Jordan Smith, England
12:52 p.m. / 7:07 a.m. – Chez Reavie, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Richard Bland, England; Troy Merritt, Meridian, Idaho
1:03 p.m. / 7:18 a.m. – Robert MacIntyre, Scotland; Victor Perez, France; Matt Wallace, England
1:14 p.m. / 7:29 a.m. – Tyler Strafaci, Davie, Fla.; Hideki Matsuyama, Japan; Bryson DeChambeau, Clovis, Calif.
1:25 p.m. / 7:40 a.m. – Adam Scott, Australia; Sergio Garcia, Spain; Bubba Watson, Bagdad, Fla.
1:36 p.m. / 7:51 a.m. – Dustin Johnson, North Palm Beach, Fla.; Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland; Justin Rose, England
1:47 p.m. / 8:02 a.m. – Matt Jones, Australia; Brendan Steele, Idyllwild, Calif.; Cameron Smith, Australia
1:58 p.m. / 8:13 a.m. – Carlos Ortiz, Mexico; Zach Johnson, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Lanto Griffin, Blacksburg, Va.
2:09 p.m. / 8:24 a.m. – Sam Burns, Shreveport, La.; Chan Kim, Gilbert, Ariz.; Thomas Detry, Belgium
2:20 p.m. / 8:35 a.m. – (a) Ollie Osborne, Reno, Nev.; Peter Malnati, Knoxville, Tenn.; Brian Stuard, Jackson, Mich.
2:31 p.m. / 8:46 a.m. – John Huh, Dallas, Texas; Johannes Veerman, Houston, Texas; Zack Sucher, Birmingham, Ala.
2:42 p.m. / 8:57 a.m. – Rick Lamb, Nashville, Tenn.; Michael Johnson, Birmingham, Ala.; Carson Schaake, Omaha, Neb.
Thursday (June 17), Hole #10 / Friday (June 18), Hole #1
12:30 p.m. / 6:45 a.m. – David Coupland, England; Taylor Pendrith, Canada; Wade Ormsby, Australia
12:41 p.m. / 6:56 a.m. – Tom Hoge, Fargo, N.D.; Bo Hoag, Columbus, Ohio; (a) Joe Highsmith, Lakewood, Wash.
12:52 p.m. / 7:07 a.m. – Erik van Rooyen, South Africa; Christiaan Bezuidenhout, South Africa; Charl Schwartzel, South Africa
1:03 p.m. / 7:18 a.m. – Garrick Higgo, South Africa; (a) Cole Hammer, Houston, Texas; Joaquin Niemann, Chile
1:14 p.m. / 7:29 a.m. – Lee Westwood, England; Stewart Cink, Atlanta, Ga.; Paul Casey, England
1:25 p.m. / 7:40 a.m. – Will Zalatoris, Dallas, Texas; Scottie Scheffler, Dallas, Texas; Jordan Spieth, Dallas, Texas
1:36 p.m. / 7:51 a.m. – Marc Leishman, Australia; Jon Rahm, Spain; Patrick Reed, The Woodlands, Texas
1:47 p.m. / 8:02 a.m. – Patrick Cantlay, Jupiter, Fla.; Louis Oosthuizen, South Africa; Sungjae Im, Republic of Korea
1:58 p.m. / 8:13 a.m. – Kevin Streelman, Wheaton, Ill.; Branden Grace, South Africa; Charley Hoffman, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
2:09 p.m. / 8:24 a.m. – Sebastian Munoz, Colombia; Rikuya Hoshino, Japan; Brendon Todd, Athens, Ga.
2:20 p.m. / 8:35 a.m. – Wyndham Clark, Denver, Colo.; (a) Matthias Schmid, Germany; Matthew Southgate, England
2:31 p.m. / 8:46 a.m. – (a) Spencer Ralston, Gainesville, Ga.; Dylan Wu, Medford, Ore.; Justin Suh, Las Vegas, Nev.
2:42 p.m. / 8:57 a.m. – Luis Gagne, Costa Rica; Kyle Westmoreland, Daniel Island, S.C.; Christopher Crawford, Bensalem, Pa.
(a): amateur
2021 U.S. Open Championship – Par & Yardage
Torrey Pines Golf Course’s South Course will be set up at 7,652 yards and will play to a par of 35-36—71. The yardage for each round of the championship will vary due to course setup and conditions.
| Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) Hole By Hole | ||||||||||
| Hole |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Total |
| Par |
4 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
35 |
| Yardage |
446 |
387 |
195 |
486 |
452 |
515 |
460 |
173 |
609 |
3,723 |
| Hole |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
Total |
| Par |
4 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
36 |
| Yardage |
449 |
222 |
501 |
612 |
434 |
480/ |
223 |
440 |
568 |
3,929 |
|
513 |
||||||||||
About the U.S. Open
The U.S. Open is one of 14 national championships conducted annually by the USGA. Since 1895, the world’s top players have been identified in the most challenging major played on America’s greatest courses. Open to all, the U.S. Open annually provides thousands of golfers of all backgrounds the opportunity to qualify through a rigorous two-stage process. Ultimately From Many, One will triumph and be crowned champion. Past champions of the U.S. Open include Bob Jones, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, and Brooks Koepka.
In September 2020, Bryson DeChambeau shot a final-round 67 at Winged Foot Golf Club to capture the championship’s 120th edition.
Generating upwards of $165 million in revenue annually, the U.S. Open drives nearly 75 percent of the USGA’s revenue and directly impacts the work we do to support millions of golfers who enjoy the game.
About the USGA
The USGA is a nonprofit organization that celebrates, serves and advances the game of golf. Founded in 1894, we conduct many of golf’s premier professional and amateur championships, including the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open. With The R&A, we govern the sport via a global set of playing, equipment, handicapping and amateur status rules. The USGA campus in Liberty Corner, New Jersey, is home to the Association’s Research and Test Center, where science and innovation are fueling a healthy and sustainable game for the future. The campus is also home to the USGA Golf Museum, where we honor the game by curating the world’s most comprehensive archive of golf artifacts. To learn more, visit usga.org.
USGA Announces Fan Experiences For 121st U.S. Open
By USGA Communications.
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (June 15, 2021) – The USGA and its official partners have designed several innovative experiences to bring fans on-site and at home inside the action of the 121st U.S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course from June 15-20.
“We have worked closely with our incredible partners to develop several exciting ways to bring fans both on-site and watching at home closer to the action than ever before,” said Navin Singh, chief commercial officer of the USGA. “We are looking forward to providing unique and compelling ways for sports fans to engage with golf’s greatest championship and enhance the way they experience the action and drama.”
From June 15-20, fans can expect:
U.S. Open Livestream presented by American Express
U.S. Open fans can follow along as their favorite players navigate the South Course at Torrey Pines. Complimentary access to three channels of live streaming will include featured groups and featured holes (Nos. 11, 12, 13). Fans can access live streaming through usopen.com, the U.S. Open App, and the USGA Streaming App, available on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV.
Voices of Victory presented by American Express
As every U.S. Open competitor enters the course each day with the goal of making history and becoming the champion of the 121st U.S. Open, they will be greeted at the player entrance by the Voices of Victory, a dynamic wall featuring a mosaic of fan-submitted videos, cheering them on and celebrating the history and tradition of the U.S. Open. Fans can learn more on how to submit videos for consideration here.
American Express Card Member Benefits
American Express Card Members will receive a variety of exclusive benefits at this year’s U.S. Open, including complimentary folding chairs for the first 500 Card Members to arrive on-site per day as well as a 10 percent discount on all purchases made with an American Express Card at the Merchandise Pavilion. Card Members can follow the action no matter where they are on the course with the American Express® Radio, which features live radio coverage of the championship. Radios and chairs will be distributed near the course’s North and South entrances.
U.S. Open Augmented Reality (AR) built by Deloitte
Available in the Apple App and Google Play Stores, the U.S. Open Augmented Reality (AR) App will transport fans from their living rooms to Torrey Pines to follow the action at this year’s championship like never before. The course will come to life on users’ mobile devices, allowing fans to follow the action in near-real time with three-dimensional views of all 18 championship holes. Fans will be able to locate players, compare their performance with anyone in the field and watch real-time shot tracking, all in augmented reality. In addition to following the live action in AR, fans can explore an immersive tour of The Lodge at Torrey Pines and experience the epic 2008 U.S. Open playoff between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate. This AR experience has been designed to complement the official U.S. Open App, which fans can download to access real-time scores, stats, highlights, live-streaming video, player tracking, and more.
Cisco Virtual 4D Replay
During the television broadcast, viewers at home will be treated to multiangle, 4D replays of the action from the 6th hole at Torrey Pines. Fans will also be able to manipulate these replays within the U.S. Open App, allowing them to control the camera angle and experience a unique perspective on the championship.
USGA Streaming App Presented by Cisco
Available for free on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV, the USGA Streaming App will have live featured groups and featured holes coverage all week long. New for 2021, the app will feature condensed telecasts of the entire day of coverage on-demand each evening. It will also be the digital home of post-round interviews throughout the championship. Launched in 2019 in partnership with Cisco, the app also features more than 500 hours of USGA championship final-round broadcasts, films, highlights, and more, all available on demand.
Virtual U.S. Open Presented by Lexus
Fans who want to test their skill at Torrey Pines can now take on the course in the Virtual U.S. Open Presented by Lexus. A part of the USGA eSports Grand Slam Presented by Lexus and hosted on the World Golf Tour (WGT) by Topgolf digital platform, contestants can compete for a variety of prizes, including a grand prize VIP trip to the 2022 U.S. Open Championship at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. Qualifying for the Virtual U.S. Open runs from now through June 30, with the final taking place on Saturday, July 24. The Virtual U.S. Open will be followed by the Match Play Challenge at Oakmont on Saturday, Sept. 18, and the Grand Slam Series Finale on Saturday, Dec. 11.
Dewar’s Scotch Whisky Offerings
Dewar’s has produced a special limited-edition commemorative bottle of 19-year-old Scotch Whisky double-aged and finished exclusively in the finest first-fill American ex-bourbon casks to celebrate this year’s championship, with part of the proceeds going to benefit the USGA Foundation. The bottle is available now through the final round on Father’s Day at your local fine wine and spirits retailer or at ReserveBar – Dewar’s Champions Edition. For those on-site at the U.S. Open, Dewar’s will offer the Victory Highball, the Official Cocktail of the U.S. Open, in hospitality venues across the grounds. The Victory Highball is Dewar’s take on the classic highball featuring Dewar’s 12-year and ginger ale.
Fan Oasis Presented by Corona Premier
Fans on-site at Torrey Pines will be able to enjoy a variety of concessions – including Corona Premier, Corona Hard Seltzer and other Constellation Brand products – at Fan Oasis Presented by Corona Premier located in multiple areas across the grounds.
#BirdiesForPremier Sweepstakes
To bring even more excitement to golf fans around the country, Corona Premier will be giving away beer for birdies recorded during the championship. Anytime a birdie is made during the championship, Corona will share a tweet from its official Twitter account, @CoronaExtraUSA, offering fans of legal drinking age the opportunity to receive a 6-pack of Corona Premier in celebration. All consumers need to do is tweet #BirdiesForPremier and #Sweepstakes. Simply for participating in #BirdiesForPremier, fans will be automatically entered into the Grand Prize drawing for a truly premier golf experience. Follow @CoronaExtraUSA on Twitter for more updates.
9-Shot Challenge presented by the U.S. Open
From June 12-20 guests at select Topgolf Venues and Toptracer Range locations as well as those participating via the World Golf Tour by Topgolf app will be able to compete with other golfers around the world for the chance to win U.S. Open prizes. Players will hit approach shots on nine different virtual golf holes at Torrey Pines, with final scores determined by the sum of their distance from the pin across all nine holes. Players can complete the challenge as many times as they would like. The top finishers globally will receive a U.S. Open flag signed by this year’s champion, with second- and third-place finishers receiving USGA Shop gift cards. To find a participating location, visit www.topgolf.com/9ShotChallenge
USGAshop.com:
Fans looking to commemorate the 121st U.S. Open can purchase championship apparel and headwear at USGAshop.com. Shop top golf brands, including Polo Ralph Lauren, the Official Outfitter of the U.S. Open. American Express Card Members will receive 20 percent off items sitewide on USGAshop.com, Tuesday, June 15 and Wednesday, June 16, when they use code: USGAAMEX and their American Express credit card at checkout. Terms and restrictions apply.
“My U.S. Open” Series from Rolex
Rolex returns with new editions of the “My U.S. Open” series highlighting champions from past U.S. Opens. In addition, Rolex has partnered with the USGA to produce an interactive timeline on usopen.com that includes videos, photos, and stats from championships throughout U.S. Open history.
Victory Club
Fans are encouraged to join the U.S. Open Victory Club, the first-ever dedicated U.S. Open fan club, where fans can celebrate the U.S. Open Championship and experience a greater connection to the championship year-round.
Fans can sign up now at usopen.com/victoryclub.
About the U.S. Open
The U.S. Open is one of 14 national championships conducted annually by the USGA. Since 1895, the world’s top players have been identified in the most challenging major played on America’s greatest courses. Open to all, the U.S. Open annually provides thousands of golfers of all backgrounds the opportunity to qualify through a rigorous two-stage process. Ultimately From Many, One will triumph and be crowned champion. Past champions of the U.S. Open include Bob Jones, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka.
In September 2020, Bryson DeChambeau shot a final-round 67 at Winged Foot Golf Club to capture the championship’s 120th edition.
Generating upwards of $165 million in revenue annually, the U.S. Open drives nearly 75 percent of the USGA’s revenue and directly impacts the work we do to support millions of golfers who enjoy the game.
About the USGA
The USGA is a nonprofit organization that celebrates, serves and advances the game of golf. Founded in 1894, we conduct many of golf’s premier professional and amateur championships, including the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open. With The R&A, we govern the sport via a global set of playing, equipment, handicapping and amateur status rules. The USGA campus in Liberty Corner, New Jersey, is home to the Association’s Research and Test Center, where science and innovation are fueling a healthy and sustainable game for the future. The campus is also home to the USGA Golf Museum, where we honor the game by curating the world’s most comprehensive archive of golf artifacts. To learn more, visit usga.org.
SANDRA GAL CELEBRATES FIRST FOURTH OF JULY AS AMERICAN CITIZEN
By LPGA Communications.
As Americans prepare for a return-to-normal celebration this Independence Day, it is good to reflect on those who, like many of our ancestors, came to America as immigrants, unsure about their futures but resolute in their quest for freedom and a better life. This past spring, the United States welcomed one new citizen that almost every fan of women’s golf will recognize. On Thursday, May 20, Sandra Gal raised her right hand and swore the oath of citizenship to become an American.
“For me, it was a natural, evolutionary process,” Gal told LPGA.com. “I played in college here [at the University of Florida] and when you come over from Europe, you get a visa. Then you can apply for a green card, which I did. After you’ve had your green card for five years, you are allowed to apply for citizenship. I did that a couple of years ago.
“It has been a bit of a slow process. But now, here I am.”
A native of Germany, Gal has been one of the most popular members of the LPGA Tour since becoming a member in 2008. A winner at the 2011 Kia Classic, she also represented Europe on the 2015 Solheim Cup team in her homeland.
“It has been 16 years that I’ve been here [in the United States] and it has felt like a second home for some time,” Gal said. “And now, to be able to call it my home officially is great.
“The green card [given to legal foreign residents] is pretty restrictive in terms of how much time you can spend in the U.S. and how much you can spend abroad, which was difficult to manage given Tour life and how much we travel. Being a citizen is definitely easier for me in terms of deciding where I want to live and how much time I want to spend here.
“I think in the beginning, America was the only country where I could get an education and continue to play golf at the same time,” Gal said. “I wasn’t sure, at the time, if I wanted to turn pro, so it made sense [to come here]. I only spent two weeks here prior to going to college [in Florida]. It was a dream, obviously. You start writing to coaches and applying to colleges early in high school. So, before I set foot here, it all seemed exciting and far away.”
Like most first-time visitors, there was a transition period.
“The first year was difficult for me,” Gal said. “But I found friends and I have obviously made my career here. I love the freedom and that I was able to pursue so many different things apart from golf. Meditation retreats, being a part of nature, staying with different families during tournaments, it all just opened my eyes to a lot of different things. I love Europe and I love the States. Every country has its benefits, its pros and cons, and I am very grateful that I can choose. There are a lot of people who don’t have that choice or that freedom.”
Those are among the things that many native-born citizens take for granted, along with the history and government questions those earning their status as Americans must answer.
“The test was not that difficult for me,” Gal said. “You have a set of 100 questions. And you have to get six out of 10 correct. I think now the pool is 200 questions. But a lot of it is stuff I learned in college in my history classes.”
The most difficult aspect of the process for Gal was getting to the swearing-in ceremony. The day before she was to become a U.S. citizen, she was on the course at Kingsmill Resort, waving to Anne van Dam as the latter played in the pro-am.
“I had planned my trip to Kingsmill to do some sponsor obligations,” Gal said. “So, I arrived on Sunday night [before the event] and then first thing on Monday morning, I received an email telling me to be at the immigration office in Tampa at 7:30 on Thursday to take my oath.
“I had driven with my boyfriend to Virginia and I had plans to shoot a few things until Wednesday afternoon. So, we drove up to Washington on Wednesday night and I caught a direct flight to Tampa. And then after taking the oath, I flew back up and we drove home.”
It was a whirlwind experience but one that she wouldn’t trade for anything. As difficult as the logistics might have been, they presented Gal with an opportunity she will never forget.
“On the day I took my citizenship oath, after I flew back up [to Reagan National airport in Washington], I got to walk around the [outside of the] White House,” she said. “That was really cool.”
SANDRA GAL CELEBRATES FIRST FOURTH OF JULY AS AMERICAN CITIZEN
As Americans prepare for a return-to-normal celebration this Independence Day, it is good to reflect on those who, like many of our ancestors, came to America as immigrants, unsure about their futures but resolute in their quest for freedom and a better life. This past spring, the United States welcomed one new citizen that almost every fan of women’s golf will recognize. On Thursday, May 20, Sandra Gal raised her right hand and swore the oath of citizenship to become an American.
“For me, it was a natural, evolutionary process,” Gal told LPGA.com. “I played in college here [at the University of Florida] and when you come over from Europe, you get a visa. Then you can apply for a green card, which I did. After you’ve had your green card for five years, you are allowed to apply for citizenship. I did that a couple of years ago.
“It has been a bit of a slow process. But now, here I am.”
A native of Germany, Gal has been one of the most popular members of the LPGA Tour since becoming a member in 2008. A winner at the 2011 Kia Classic, she also represented Europe on the 2015 Solheim Cup team in her homeland.
“It has been 16 years that I’ve been here [in the United States] and it has felt like a second home for some time,” Gal said. “And now, to be able to call it my home officially is great.
“The green card [given to legal foreign residents] is pretty restrictive in terms of how much time you can spend in the U.S. and how much you can spend abroad, which was difficult to manage given Tour life and how much we travel. Being a citizen is definitely easier for me in terms of deciding where I want to live and how much time I want to spend here.
“I think in the beginning, America was the only country where I could get an education and continue to play golf at the same time,” Gal said. “I wasn’t sure, at the time, if I wanted to turn pro, so it made sense [to come here]. I only spent two weeks here prior to going to college [in Florida]. It was a dream, obviously. You start writing to coaches and applying to colleges early in high school. So, before I set foot here, it all seemed exciting and far away.”
Like most first-time visitors, there was a transition period.
“The first year was difficult for me,” Gal said. “But I found friends and I have obviously made my career here. I love the freedom and that I was able to pursue so many different things apart from golf. Meditation retreats, being a part of nature, staying with different families during tournaments, it all just opened my eyes to a lot of different things. I love Europe and I love the States. Every country has its benefits, its pros and cons, and I am very grateful that I can choose. There are a lot of people who don’t have that choice or that freedom.”
Those are among the things that many native-born citizens take for granted, along with the history and government questions those earning their status as Americans must answer.
“The test was not that difficult for me,” Gal said. “You have a set of 100 questions. And you have to get six out of 10 correct. I think now the pool is 200 questions. But a lot of it is stuff I learned in college in my history classes.”
The most difficult aspect of the process for Gal was getting to the swearing-in ceremony. The day before she was to become a U.S. citizen, she was on the course at Kingsmill Resort, waving to Anne van Dam as the latter played in the pro-am.
“I had planned my trip to Kingsmill to do some sponsor obligations,” Gal said. “So, I arrived on Sunday night [before the event] and then first thing on Monday morning, I received an email telling me to be at the immigration office in Tampa at 7:30 on Thursday to take my oath.
“I had driven with my boyfriend to Virginia and I had plans to shoot a few things until Wednesday afternoon. So, we drove up to Washington on Wednesday night and I caught a direct flight to Tampa. And then after taking the oath, I flew back up and we drove home.”
It was a whirlwind experience but one that she wouldn’t trade for anything. As difficult as the logistics might have been, they presented Gal with an opportunity she will never forget.
“On the day I took my citizenship oath, after I flew back up [to Reagan National airport in Washington], I got to walk around the [outside of the] White House,” she said. “That was really cool.”
