United States Amateur Championship (golf)

U.S. Amateur
Tournament information
Location Pacific Palisades, California (2017)
Established 1895
Course(s) Riviera Country Club (2017)
Par 71 (2017)
Length 7,322 yd (6,695 m) (2017)
Organized by USGA
Format Stroke play and match play
Month played August
Current champion
Australia Curtis Luck

The United States Amateur Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Amateur, is the leading annual golf tournament in the United States for amateur golfers. It is organized by the United States Golf Association and is currently held each August over a 7-day period.

In 1894 there were two tournaments called the "National Amateur Championship". One of them was played at Newport Country Club and was won by William G. Lawrence, and the other took place at St Andrew's Golf Club and was won by Laurence B. Stottard. This state of affairs prompted Charles B. Macdonald of the Chicago Golf Club to call for the creation of a national governing body to authorize an official national championship, and the Amateur Golf Association of the United States, which was soon to be renamed the United States Golf Association, was formed on December 22 of that year. In 1895 it organized both the first U.S. Amateur Championship and the first U.S. Open, both of which were played at Newport Country Club.

There are no age or gender restrictions on entry, but players must have a handicap index of 2.4 or less. Originally, entry was restricted to members of USGA-affiliated private clubs (and, presumably, international players who were members of private clubs affiliated with their nations' golf governing bodies), a restriction that was not lifted until 1979.[1] The tournament consists of two days of stroke play, with the leading 64 competitors then playing a knockout competition held at match play to decide the champion. All knockout matches are over 18 holes except for the final, which consists of 36 holes, separated into morning and afternoon 18-hole rounds. Nowadays it is usually won by players in their late teens or early twenties who are working towards a career as a tournament professional. Before World War II more top-level golfers chose to remain amateur, and the average age of U.S. Amateur champions was higher.

Many of the leading figures in the history of golf have been U.S. Amateur Champion, including Bobby Jones five times, Jerome Travers four times, Jack Nicklaus twice and Tiger Woods three times (all consecutive; the only player to win three in a row). In 1993, Woods got knocked out to Kingshill Golf Club's Paul Page 2&1 in the last 16, but Woods' first win, as an 18-year-old in 1994, made him the youngest winner of the event, breaking the previous record of 19 years 5 months set by Robert A. Gardner in 1909. In 2008, New Zealander Danny Lee became the youngest ever winner, only to be eclipsed by 17-year-old An Byeong-hun the following year. Before the professional game became dominant, the event was regarded as one of the majors. This is no longer the case, but the champion still receives an automatic invitation to play in all of the majors except the PGA Championship. In addition, the runner-up also receives an invitation to play in the Masters and the U.S. Open. However, the golfers must maintain their amateur status at the time the events are held (unless they qualify for the tournaments by other means).

As the Amateur Championship is dominated by future professionals, in 1981 a separate championship called the U.S. Mid-Amateur was established for "career amateurs" at least 25 years old. This gives the best players who never turn pro a chance to play against each other for a national title.

Field

While most players at the U.S. Amateur advance through sectional qualifying, a few players are exempt each year.

  1. Winners of the U.S. Amateur each of the last ten years.
  2. Runner-up of the U.S. Amateur each of the last three years.
  3. Semi-finalists of the U.S. Amateur each of the last two years.
  4. Quarter-finalists of the U.S. Amateur the previous year.
  5. Any player who qualified for the current year's U.S. Open.
  6. Those returning 72 hole scores from the previous year's U.S. Open.
  7. The amateur with the lowest score from the current year's U.S. Senior Open.
  8. From the U.S. Mid-Amateur: winner each of the last two years and runner-up from the previous year.
  9. From the U.S. Amateur Public Links: winner each of the last two years and runner-up from the previous year. Because the Amateur Public Links was discontinued after its 2014 edition, the runner-up exemption disappeared after the 2015 U.S. Amateur, and the winner's exemption disappeared after 2016.
  10. From the U.S. Junior Amateur: winner each of the last two years and runner-up from the previous year.
  11. From the U.S. Senior Amateur: winner each of the last two years and runner-up from the previous year.
  12. Playing members of the two most recent Walker Cup teams.
  13. Playing members of the two most recent U.S. Eisenhower Trophy teams.
  14. Playing members of the current year's U.S. Men's Copa de las Américas team.
  15. Winner of the current year's individual NCAA Division I Championship.
  16. Winner of the British Amateur Championship each of the last five years.
  17. Top fifty golfers in World Amateur Golf Ranking.

In all cases, the exemptions only apply if the player has not turned professional.

Winners

YearVenueWinnerCountryScoreRunner-up
2016 Oakland Hills Country Club Curtis Luck  Australia 6 & 4 United States Brad Dalke
2015 Olympia Fields Country Club Bryson DeChambeau  United States 7 & 6 United States Derek Bard
2014Atlanta Athletic Club Gunn Yang  South Korea 2 & 1 Canada Corey Conners
2013The Country Club Matthew Fitzpatrick  England4 & 3 Australia Oliver Goss
2012Cherry Hills Country Club Steven Fox  United States37th hole United States Michael Weaver
2011Erin Hills Kelly Kraft  United States2 up United States Patrick Cantlay
2010Chambers BayPeter Uihlein United States4 & 2United States David Chung
2009Southern Hills Country ClubAn Byeong-hun South Korea7 & 5United States Ben Martin
2008Pinehurst ResortDanny Lee New Zealand5 & 4United States Drew Kittleson
2007Olympic ClubColt Knost United States2 & 1United States Michael Thompson
2006Hazeltine National Golf ClubRichie Ramsay Scotland4 & 2United States John Kelly
2005Merion Golf ClubEdoardo Molinari Italy4 & 3United States Dillon Dougherty
2004Winged Foot Golf ClubRyan Moore United States2 upUnited States Luke List
2003Oakmont Country ClubNick Flanagan Australia37th holeUnited States Casey Wittenberg
2002Oakland Hills Country ClubRicky Barnes United States2 & 1United States Hunter Mahan
2001East Lake Golf ClubBubba Dickerson United States1 upUnited States Robert Hamilton
2000Baltusrol Golf ClubJeff Quinney United States39th holeUnited States James Driscoll
1999Pebble Beach Golf LinksDavid Gossett United States9 & 8South Korea Kim Sung-yoon
1998Oak Hill Country ClubHank Kuehne United States2 & 1United States Tom McKnight
1997Cog Hill Golf & Country ClubMatt Kuchar United States2 & 1United States Joel Kribel
1996Pumpkin Ridge Golf ClubTiger Woods (3)  United States38th holeUnited States Steve Scott
1995Newport Country ClubTiger Woods (2)  United States2 upUnited States Buddy Marucci
1994TPC at SawgrassTiger Woods United States2 upUnited States Trip Kuehne
1993Champions Golf ClubJohn Harris United States5 & 3United States Danny Ellis
1992Muirfield VillageJustin Leonard United States8 & 7United States Tom Scherrer
1991The Honors CourseMitch Voges United States7 & 6South Africa Manny Zerman
1990Cherry Hills Country ClubPhil Mickelson United States5 & 4South Africa Manny Zerman
1989Merion Golf ClubChris Patton United States3 & 1United States Danny Green
1988The HomesteadEric Meeks United States7 & 6United States Danny Yates
1987Jupiter Hills ClubBilly Mayfair United States4 & 3United States Eric Rebmann
1986Shoal Creek Golf and Country ClubBuddy Alexander United States5 & 3United States Chris Kite
1985Montclair Golf ClubSam Randolph United States1 upUnited States Peter Persons
1984Oak Tree Golf ClubScott Verplank United States4 & 3United States Sam Randolph
1983North Shore Country ClubJay Sigel (2)  United States8 & 7United States Chris Perry
1982The Country ClubJay Sigel United States8 & 7United States David Tolley
1981Olympic ClubNathaniel Crosby United States1 upUnited States Brian Lindley
1980The Country Club of North CarolinaHal Sutton United States9 & 8United States Bob Lewis
1979Canterbury Golf ClubMark O'Meara United States8 & 7United States John Cook
1978Plainfield Country ClubJohn Cook United States5 & 4United States Scott Hoch
1977Aronimink Golf ClubJohn Fought United States9 & 8United States Doug Fischesser
1976Bel-Air Country ClubBill Sander United States8 & 6United States C. Parker Moore Jr.
1975Country Club of VirginiaFred Ridley United States2 upUnited States Keith Fergus
1974Ridgewood Country ClubJerry Pate United States2 & 1United States John R. Grace
1973Inverness ClubCraig Stadler United States6 & 5United States David Strawn
1965–72: Stroke play
1972Charlotte Country ClubVinny Giles United States285United States Mark Hayes,
United States Ben Crenshaw
1971Wilmington Country ClubGary Cowan (2)  Canada280United States Eddie Pearce
1970Waverley Country ClubLanny Wadkins United States279United States Tom Kite
1969Oakmont Country ClubSteve Melnyk United States286United States Vinny Giles
1968Scioto Country ClubBruce Fleisher United States284United States Vinny Giles
1967Broadmoor Golf ClubBob Dickson United States285United States Vinny Giles
1966Merion Golf ClubGary Cowan Canada285United States Deane Beman
1965Southern Hills Country ClubBob Murphy United States291United States Bob Dickson
1895–1964: Match play
1964Canterbury Golf ClubWilliam C. Campbell United States1 upUnited States Edgar M. Tutwiler
1963Wakonda ClubDeane Beman (2)  United States2 & 1United States R. H. Sikes
1962Pinehurst ResortLabron Harris, Jr. United States1 upUnited States Downing Gray
1961Pebble Beach Golf LinksJack Nicklaus (2)  United States8 & 6United States Dudley Wysong
1960St. Louis Country ClubDeane Beman United States6 & 4United States Robert W. Gardner
1959Broadmoor Golf ClubJack Nicklaus United States1 upUnited States Charles Coe
1958Olympic ClubCharles Coe (2)  United States5 & 4United States Tommy Aaron
1957The Country ClubHillman Robbins United States5 & 4United States Dr. Frank M. Taylor
1956Knollwood ClubHarvie Ward (2)  United States5 & 4United States Chuck Kocsis
1955Country Club of VirginiaHarvie Ward United States9 & 8United States Bill Hyndman
1954Country Club of DetroitArnold Palmer United States1 upUnited States Robert Sweeny Jr.
1953Oklahoma City Golf & Country ClubGene Littler United States1 upUnited States Dale Morey
1952Seattle Golf ClubJack Westland United States3 & 2United States Al Mengert
1951Saucon Valley Country ClubBilly Maxwell United States4 & 3United States Joseph F. Gagliardi
1950Minneapolis Golf ClubSam Urzetta United States39th holeUnited States Frank Stranahan
1949Oak Hill Country ClubCharles Coe United States11 & 10United States Rufus King
1948Memphis Country ClubWillie Turnesa (2)  United States2 & 1United States Raymond E. Billows
1947Pebble Beach Golf LinksSkee Riegel United States2 & 1United States Johnny Dawson
1946Baltusrol Golf ClubTed Bishop United States37th holeUnited States Smiley Quick
1942–45: No championships due to World War II
1941Omaha Field ClubBud Ward (2)  United States4 & 3United States Pat Abbott
1940Winged Foot Golf ClubDick Chapman United States11 & 9United States W. B. McCullough Jr.
1939North Shore Country ClubBud Ward United States7 & 5United States Raymond E. Billows
1938Oakmont Country ClubWillie Turnesa United States8 & 7United States Pat Abbott
1937Alderwood Country ClubJohnny Goodman United States2 upUnited States Raymond E. Billows
1936Garden City Golf ClubJohn Fischer United States37th holeScotland Jack McLean
1935The Country ClubLawson Little (2)  United States4 & 2United States Walter Emery
1934The Country ClubLawson Little United States8 & 7United States David Goldman
1933Kenwood Country ClubGeorge Dunlap United States6 & 5United States Max R. Marston
1932Baltimore Country ClubRoss Somerville Canada2 & 1United States Johnny Goodman
1931Beverly Country ClubFrancis Ouimet (2)  United States6 & 5United States Jack Westland
1930Merion Golf ClubBobby Jones (5)  United States8 & 7United States Eugene V. Homans
1929Pebble Beach Golf LinksHarrison R. Johnston United States4 & 3United States Oscar F. Willing
1928Brae Burn Country ClubBobby Jones (4)  United States10 & 9England Philip Perkins
1927Minikahda ClubBobby Jones (3)  United States8 & 7United States Chick Evans
1926Baltusrol Golf ClubGeorge Von Elm United States2 & 1United States Bobby Jones
1925Oakmont Country ClubBobby Jones (2)  United States8 & 7United States Watts Gunn
1924Merion Golf ClubBobby Jones United States9 & 8United States George Von Elm
1923Flossmoor Country ClubMax R. Marston United States38th holeUnited States Jess Sweetser
1922The Country ClubJess Sweetser United States3 & 2United States Chick Evans
1921St. Louis Country ClubJesse P. Guilford United States7 & 6United States Robert A. Gardner
1920Engineers Country ClubChick Evans (2)  United States7 & 6United States Francis Ouimet
1919Oakmont Country ClubS. Davidson Herron United States5 & 4United States Bobby Jones
1917–18: No championships due to World War I
1916Merion Golf ClubChick Evans United States4 & 3United States Robert A. Gardner
1915Country Club of DetroitRobert A. Gardner (2)  United States5 & 4United States John G. Anderson
1914Ekwanok Country ClubFrancis Ouimet United States6 & 5United States Jerome Travers
1913Garden City Golf ClubJerome Travers (4)  United States5 & 4United States John G. Anderson
1912Chicago Golf ClubJerome Travers (3)  United States7 & 6United States Chick Evans
1911The Apawamis ClubHarold Hilton England37th holeUnited States Fred Herreshoff
1910The Country ClubWilliam C. Fownes Jr. United States4 & 3United States Warren Wood
1909Chicago Golf ClubRobert A. Gardner United States4 & 3United States Chandler Egan
1908Garden City Golf ClubJerome Travers (2)  United States8 & 7United States Max H. Behr
1907Euclid ClubJerome Travers United States6 & 5United States Archibald Graham
1906Englewood Golf ClubEben Byers United States2 upCanada George Lyon
1905Chicago Golf ClubChandler Egan (2)  United States6 & 5United States Daniel Sawyer
1904Baltusrol Golf ClubChandler Egan United States8 & 6United States Fred Herreshoff
1903Nassau Country ClubWalter Travis (3)  United States5 & 4United States Eben Byers
1902Glen View ClubLouis N. James United States4 & 2United States Eben Byers
1901Atlantic City Country ClubWalter Travis (2)  United States5 & 4United States Walter Egan
1900Garden City Golf ClubWalter Travis United States2 upScotland Findlay S. Douglas
1899Onwentsia ClubHerbert M. Harriman United States3 & 2Scotland Findlay S. Douglas
1898Morris County Golf ClubFindlay S. Douglas Scotland5 & 3United States Walter B. Smith
1897Chicago Golf ClubH. J. Whigham (2)  Scotland8 & 6United States W. Rossiter Betts
1896Shinnecock Hills Golf ClubH. J. Whigham Scotland8 & 7United States Joseph G. Thorp
1895Newport Country ClubCharles B. Macdonald United States12 & 11United States Charles Sands

Multiple winners

Eighteen players have won more than one U.S. Amateur, through 2016:

Eleven players have won both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open Championships, through 2016:

Thirteen players have won both the U.S. Amateur and British Amateurs, through 2016:

Two players have won both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Amateur Public Links in the same year, through 2016:

^ Won both in same year. Bobby Jones won the Grand Slam in 1930, winning the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open, British Amateur, and British Open.

Most times hosted

Future sites

YearEditionCourseLocationDates
2017 117th Riviera Country Club Pacific Palisades, California August 14–20
2018 118th Pebble Beach Golf Links Pebble Beach, California August 13–19
2019 119th Pinehurst Resort & Country Club Pinehurst, North Carolina August 12–18
2020 120th Bandon Dunes Golf Resort Bandon, Oregon August 10–16

Source[2]

References

  1. "Changes Made to USGA Championship Roster" (Press release). United States Golf Association. February 11, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  2. USGA.com – Future venues
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