If you woke up this morning feeling a little bit of extra optimism, maybe that’s because the smell of major championship dreams is in the air.
That’s right: U.S. Open qualifying is back! After canceling its usual process due to the coronavirus in 2020, the USGA announced this week that Local Qualifying is back for the U.S. Open, which is at Torrey Pines June 17-20, and Open Qualifying is back for the U.S. Women’s Open, which is June 3-6 at the Olympic Club.
On the men’s side, 18-hole local qualifiers will take place at 109 sites in 43 U.S. states plus Canada beginning on April 26 and running through May 18. The number of prospective qualifiers regularly approaches 10,000, with an all-time record of 10,127 for the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst.
About half the field at a typical U.S. Open comes from open qualifying, though many of those qualifiers are exempt through the local stage. In 2019, more than 9,000 golfers signed up to try to play the championship at Pebble Beach, and 17 players who started at locals made it into the 156-player field, according to an email from the USGA. Of those 17, four players made the 36-hole cut. Ken Venturi (1964) and Orville Moody (1969) are the only golfers to win the U.S. Open after qualifying through both local and final play.
So where are the qualifiers being held? There are 14 local sites in California and 13 in Florida, by far the most of any state. Texas has six sites and New York and Pennsylvania each have five. (The complete list can be found below.)
To be eligible for qualifying, a player must have a handicap index of 1.4 or below or be a professional. Online player registration for the 2021 U.S. Open will begin in the fourth week of February at champs.usga.org.
On the women’s side, 36-hole qualifiers will be held at 22 U.S. courses between April 26 and May 13. USGA officials are still determining whether they can hold international qualifying and will make a decision on other potential sites in the coming weeks.
A record 1,873 women attempted to qualify for the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club. Since open qualifying began in 1976, two qualifiers have gone on to win the championship: Hilary Lunke in 2003 at Pumpkin Ridge and Birdie Kim in 2005 at Cherry Hills.
Of the 22 qualifying sites, California has the most of any state with four, while Florida has three.
To be eligible, a player must have a handicap index of 2.4 or below or be a professional. Online entry applications open on Feb. 17 and continues through April 14 at champs.usga.org.
“Last year was a difficult one in many respects and the decision to cancel qualifying did not come easily,” said John Bodenhamer, senior managing director, Championships. “We are thankful to be able to safely bring back qualifying and the openness that embodies all our championships in 2021.”
You can see the entire list of men’s and women’s qualifying sites below:
U.S. Open Local Qualifying Sites (109)
Monday, April 26 (1)
Fox Den C.C., Knoxville, Tenn.
Tuesday, April 27 (3)
Hoakalei C.C., Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Huntington Crescent Club, Huntington, N.Y.
Duke University G.C., Durham, N.C.
Wednesday, April 28 (1)
Waterlefe Golf & River Club, Bradenton, Fla.
Thursday, April 29 (7)
Mission Inn R. & C. (El Campeon Course), Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.
Mayacoo Lakes C.C., West Palm Beach, Fla.
Oakbourne C.C., Lafayette, La.
Columbia C.C. (Ridgewood/Tall Pines Courses), Blythewood, S.C.
Jackson (Tenn.) C.C.
Amarillo (Texas) C.C.
The Pines C.C., Morgantown, W.Va.
Saturday, May 1 (1)
The King Kamehameha G.C., Wailuku, Hawaii
Monday, May 3 (16)
El Niguel C.C., Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Indian Ridge C.C. (Grove Course), Palm Desert, Calif.
Patterson Club, Fairfield, Conn.
Plantation Bay G. & C.C. (Club de Bonmont Course), Ormond Beach, Fla.
Marietta C.C., Kennesaw, Ga.
Cog Hill G. & C.C. (Dubsdread Course), Lemont, Ill.
The C.C. of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Ind.
Beaver Hills C.C., Cedar Falls, Iowa
Eastward Ho! C.C., Chatham, Mass.
Muskegon (Mich.) C.C.
North Shore C.C., Glen Head, N.Y.
Oak Tree C.C. (East Course), Edmond, Okla.
The C.C. of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Escondido Golf & Lake Club, Horseshoe Bay, Texas
Alpine C.C., Highland, Utah
Gold Mountain G.C. (Olympic Course), Bremerton, Wash.
Tuesday, May 4 (12)
Hot Springs C.C. (Arlington Course), Hot Springs, Ark.
El Macero (Calif.) C.C.
Andalusia C.C., La Quinta, Calif.
The Club at Ruby Hill, Pleasanton, Calif.
Collindale G.C., Fort Collins, Colo.
Cherry Blossom G.C., Georgetown, Ky.
Northwest G.C., Silver Spring, Md.
Legends Club, Prior Lake, Minn.
Green Brook C.C., North Caldwell, N.J.
New Mexico State University G.C., Las Cruces, N.M.
Beechmont C.C., Cleveland, Ohio
Whitestone G.C., Benbrook, Texas
Wednesday, May 5 (5)
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Silver Lakes (Backbreaker/Heartbreaker Courses), Glencoe, Ala.
The Preserve G.C., Carmel, Calif.
Arroyo Trabuco G.C., Mission Viejo, Calif.
Orange Tree G.C., Orlando, Fla.
Butler (Pa.) C.C.
Thursday, May 6 (11)
Sewailo G.C., Tucson, Ariz.
Bermuda Dunes (Calif.) C.C. (Classic Course)
La Purisima G.C., Lompoc, Calif.
Classic Club, Palm Desert, Calif.
Hobe Sound (Fla.) C.C.
Bear’s Paw C.C., Naples, Fla.
Bay Point G.C. (Nicklaus Course), Panama City Beach, Fla.
Buckhorn Springs G. & C.C., Valrico, Fla.
Hillendale C.C., Phoenix, Md.
River Landing G.C. (River Course), Wallace, N.C.
The Federal Club, Glen Allen, Va.
Sunday, May 9 (1)
Palmer (Alaska) G.C.
Monday, May 10 (25)
Phoenix (Ariz.) C.C.
Dragonfly G.C., Madera, Calif.
Peach Tree G. & C.C., Marysville, Calif.
Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, Westminster, Colo.
Shuttle Meadow C.C., Berlin, Conn.
Shingle Creek G.C., Orlando, Fla.
The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
The Club at Weston Hills (Tour Course), Weston, Fla.
Cantigny G.C., Wheaton, Ill.
South Bend (Ind.) C.C.
Barton Hills C.C., Ann Arbor, Mich.
Medina (Minn.) G. & C.C.
Spencer T. Olin G.C., Alton, Mo.
The G.C. at Creekmoor, Raymore, Mo.
Beatrice (Neb.) C.C.
Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, Stateline, Nev.
UNM Championship G.C., Albuquerque, N.M.
Whippoorwill Club, Armonk, N.Y.
Mohawk G.C., Schenectady, N.Y.
Ravenwood G.C., Victor, N.Y.
Willamette Valley C.C., Canby, Ore.
Indian Valley C.C., Telford, Pa.
Long Cove Club, Hilton Head Island, S.C.
The Club at Comanche Trace (Valley/Hills Courses), Kerrville, Texas
Gamble Sands, Brewster, Wash.
Tuesday, May 11 (4)
Ironwood C.C. (South Course), Palm Desert, Calif.
Ledgemont C.C., Seekonk, Mass.
Missoula (Mont.) C.C.
The Bridges G.C., Gunter, Texas
Wednesday, May 12 (5)
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes G.C., Maricopa, Ariz.
Wichita (Kan.) C.C.
The Steel Club, Hellertown, Pa.
Hidden Glen C.C., Cedarburg, Wis.
Riverton (Wyo.) C.C.
Thursday, May 13 (4)
The Grand G.C., San Diego, Calif.
CommonGround G.C., Aurora, Colo.
RedHawk G.C., Nampa, Idaho
C.C. of York, York, Pa.
Monday, May 17 (12)
The C.C. at DC Ranch, Scottsdale, Ariz.
The C.C. of Winter Haven (Fla.)
Callaway Resort & Gardens (Mountainview Course), Pine Mountain, Ga.
Illini C.C., Springfield, Ill.
Crumpin-Fox Club, Bernardston, Mass.
Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort (Sun Course), Las Vegas, Nev.
Pinewild C.C. (Magnolia Course), Pinehurst, N.C.
Maketewah C.C., Cincinnati, Ohio
Catawba Island Club, Port Clinton, Ohio
Kinsale G. & F.C., Powell, Ohio
Elmhurst C.C., Moscow, Pa.
Lakeside C.C., Houston, Texas
Tuesday, May 18 (1)
TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (Heathlands Course), Caledon, Ontario, Canada
The edge of glory: Attempting to qualify for the U.S. Open in Alaska
2021 U.S. Women’s Open Qualifying Sites (22)
Monday, April 26 (4)
Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon (Champions Course), Beaumont, Calif.
Half Moon Bay (Calif.) Golf Links (Old Course)
Oceanside Country Club, Ormond Beach, Fla.
OGA Golf Course, Woodburn, Ore.
Tuesday, April 27 (1)
Belle Haven Country Club, Alexandria, Va.
Wednesday, April 28 (1)
Old Hickory Golf Club, St. Louis, Mo.
Thursday, April 29 (1)
Kishwaukee Country Club, Dekalb, Ill.
Monday, May 3 (5)
Brentwood Country Club, Los Angeles, Calif.
Marin Country Club, Novato, Calif.
Bradenton (Fla.) Country Club
Druid Hills Golf Club, Atlanta, Ga.
Somerset Country Club, Mendota Heights, Minn.
Tuesday, May 4 (3)
Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, Southern Pines, N.C.
Shannopin Country Club, Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Clubs at Houston Oaks, Hockley, Texas
Wednesday, May 5 (1)
Dedham (Mass.) Country & Polo Club
Monday, May 10 (4)
The Ranch Country Club, Westminster, Colo.
Oahu Country Club, Honolulu, Hawaii
Spring Lake Golf Club, Spring Lake, N.J.
Oakmont Country Club, Corinth, Texas
Tuesday, May 11 (1)
Banyan Cay Resort & Golf Club, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Thursday, May 13 (1)
Superstition Mountain Golf Club, Gold Canyon, Ariz.
2021 U.S. Women’s Open Qualifying Sites (22)
Monday, April 26 (4)
Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon (Champions Course), Beaumont, Calif.
Half Moon Bay (Calif.) Golf Links (Old Course)
Oceanside Country Club, Ormond Beach, Fla.
OGA Golf Course, Woodburn, Ore.
Tuesday, April 27 (1)
Belle Haven Country Club, Alexandria, Va.
Wednesday, April 28 (1)
Old Hickory Golf Club, St. Louis, Mo.
Thursday, April 29 (1)
Kishwaukee Country Club, Dekalb, Ill.
Monday, May 3 (5)
Brentwood Country Club, Los Angeles, Calif.
Marin Country Club, Novato, Calif.
Bradenton (Fla.) Country Club
Druid Hills Golf Club, Atlanta, Ga.
Somerset Country Club, Mendota Heights, Minn.
Tuesday, May 4 (3)
Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, Southern Pines, N.C.
Shannopin Country Club, Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Clubs at Houston Oaks, Hockley, Texas
Wednesday, May 5 (1)
Dedham (Mass.) Country & Polo Club
Monday, May 10 (4)
The Ranch Country Club, Westminster, Colo.
Oahu Country Club, Honolulu, Hawaii
Spring Lake Golf Club, Spring Lake, N.J.
Oakmont Country Club, Corinth, Texas
Tuesday, May 11 (1)
Banyan Cay Resort & Golf Club, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Thursday, May 13 (1)
Superstition Mountain Golf Club, Gold Canyon, Ariz.
For more information, visit uswomensopen.com.