US Open strikes qualifying for 2020 event

Qualifying for the US Open Championship has been cancelled this year, the United States Golf Association has announced.

By Australian Associated Press

Golf's US Open might feel more like a closed shop this year.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has already meant the movement of the American major from June to September, has now forced the USGA to do away with qualifying for the first time since 1924.

Open qualifying is the hallmark of golf's second-oldest championship. The USGA often points out that typically half of the 156-man field has to go through either 36-hole qualifying or 18-hole and 36-hole qualifying.

It even invested in a marketing campaign that was rolled out in February titled, "From Many, One," to illustrate that some 9,000 people apply to play in the US Open, eventually yielding to one winner.

The USGA did not announce Monday how other players would become exempt for the event at the Winged Foot course in New York.

"As you can imagine, this was an incredibly difficult decision, as qualifying is a cornerstone of USGA championships," said John Bodenhamer, senior MD of championships for the USGA.

"We take great pride in the fact that many thousands typically enter to pursue their dream of qualifying for the US Open and we deeply regret that they will not have that opportunity this year."


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