The United States Golf Association is the first governing body to provide players from the LIV Golf League a direct pathway into a men’s major championship.
There was no complaining, no bitterness. Carlos Ortiz stood over a pitch shot on the final hole of LIV Golf Houston confident he would win, and certain he would be asked later about the fact he will not be playing in this week’s US Open at Pinehurst.
Fifty years after “The Massacre at Winged Foot” and on the eve of this year’s US Open at Pinehurst No.2, almost everything has changed – including the USGA’s philosophy surrounding a course’s playing characteristics.
The USGA announced overnight it had accepted a record 2,107, breaking the previous mark of 1,874 set a year ago and eclipsing the 2,000 threshold for the first time.
This will mark the seventh time Winged Foot will have hosted the USGA’s signature event, tied with Baltusrol for the second most behind only Oakmont Country Club, which will host for the 10th time in 2025.
The decision falls in line with the USGA holding the US Open at Winged Foot in September with no spectators. Additionally, the LPGA has yet to play any event where fans have been permitted since resuming its schedule on July 31.
Only once the R&A decided to cancel the Open Championship, freeing up the September window for the USGA to hold the US Open, did it give Winged Foot a chance at remaining the host venue.
Lest you think this is a media-driven story or a narrative that will shadow the championship in perpetuity, know it’s one both sides – players and management – acknowledge.
The USGA announced overnight its one-time exemption categories for the 120th US Open, with the one-day, 36-hole marathon sectional qualifiers having been replaced by season standings, world-ranking positions and good old-fashioned results.
Australian Golf Digest
