United States Amateur Championship (golf)

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U.S. Amateur
Jerry Pate with U.S. Amateur trophy, 1974
Tournament information
LocationParamus, New Jersey (2022)
Established1895
Course(s)Cherry Hills Country Club (2023)
Par71 (2023)
Length7,403 yd (6,769 m) (2022)
Organized byUSGA
FormatStroke play and match play
Month playedAugust
Current champion
United States Nick Dunlap

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 Saint 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). 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 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. The golfers must maintain their amateur status at the time the events are held (unless they qualify for the tournaments by other means). The USGA added an exception starting with the 2019 U.S. Amateur Championship in that the tournament winner only may turn professional and keep his berth for the ensuing U.S. Open.

With the growth in professional golf through the latter half of the 20th century, the U.S. Amateur has become dominated by younger players destined to soon become professionals. In 1981 the USGA established a new championship called the U.S. Mid-Amateur for amateurs aged at least 25 years old in order to give players who had not joined the professional ranks, and those who had regained their amateur status, a chance to play against each other for a national title.

Field[edit]

While most players at the U.S. Amateur advance through sectional qualifying, many players are exempt each year. Below are the exemptions:

  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 hundred golfers in World Amateur Golf Ranking.
  18. Winner of the current year Latin America Amateur Championship.[2]

In all cases, the exemptions only apply if the player has not turned professional as of the tournament date.

Winners[edit]

Watts Gunn (left) with Bobby Jones (holding trophy) at the 1925 U.S. Amateur, which Jones won.
Year Winner Score Runner-up Venue
2023 United States Nick Dunlap 4 & 3 United States Neal Shipley Cherry Hills Country Club
2022 United States Sam Bennett 1 up United States Ben Carr Ridgewood Country Club
2021 United States James Piot 2 & 1 United States Austin Greaser Oakmont Country Club
2020 United States Tyler Strafaci 1 up United States Ollie Osborne Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
2019 United States Andy Ogletree 2 & 1 United States John Augenstein Pinehurst Resort
2018 Norway Viktor Hovland 6 & 5 United States Devon Bling Pebble Beach Golf Links
2017 United States Doc Redman 37th hole United States Doug Ghim Riviera Country Club
2016 Australia Curtis Luck 6 & 4 United States Brad Dalke Oakland Hills Country Club
2015 United States Bryson DeChambeau 7 & 6 United States Derek Bard Olympia Fields Country Club
2014 South Korea Gunn Yang 2 & 1 Canada Corey Conners Atlanta Athletic Club
2013 England Matt Fitzpatrick 4 & 3 Australia Oliver Goss The Country Club
2012 United States Steven Fox 37th hole United States Michael Weaver Cherry Hills Country Club
2011 United States Kelly Kraft 2 up United States Patrick Cantlay Erin Hills
2010 United States Peter Uihlein 4 & 2 United States David Chung Chambers Bay
2009 South Korea An Byeong-hun 7 & 5 United States Ben Martin Southern Hills Country Club
2008 New Zealand Danny Lee 5 & 4 United States Drew Kittleson Pinehurst Resort
2007 United States Colt Knost 2 & 1 United States Michael Thompson Olympic Club
2006 Scotland Richie Ramsay 4 & 2 United States John Kelly Hazeltine National Golf Club
2005 Italy Edoardo Molinari 4 & 3 United States Dillon Dougherty Merion Golf Club
2004 United States Ryan Moore 2 up United States Luke List Winged Foot Golf Club
2003 Australia Nick Flanagan 37th hole United States Casey Wittenberg Oakmont Country Club
2002 United States Ricky Barnes 2 & 1 United States Hunter Mahan Oakland Hills Country Club
2001 United States Bubba Dickerson 1 up United States Robert Hamilton East Lake Golf Club
2000 United States Jeff Quinney 39th hole United States James Driscoll Baltusrol Golf Club
1999 United States David Gossett 9 & 8 South Korea Kim Sung-yoon Pebble Beach Golf Links
1998 United States Hank Kuehne 2 & 1 United States Tom McKnight Oak Hill Country Club
1997 United States Matt Kuchar 2 & 1 United States Joel Kribel Cog Hill Golf & Country Club
1996 United States Tiger Woods (3) 38th hole United States Steve Scott Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club
1995 United States Tiger Woods (2) 2 up United States Buddy Marucci Newport Country Club
1994 United States Tiger Woods 2 up United States Trip Kuehne TPC at Sawgrass
1993 United States John Harris 5 & 3 United States Danny Ellis Champions Golf Club
1992 United States Justin Leonard 8 & 7 United States Tom Scherrer Muirfield Village
1991 United States Mitch Voges 7 & 6 South Africa Manny Zerman Honors Course
1990 United States Phil Mickelson 5 & 4 South Africa Manny Zerman Cherry Hills Country Club
1989 United States Chris Patton 3 & 1 United States Danny Green Merion Golf Club
1988 United States Eric Meeks 7 & 6 United States Danny Yates The Homestead
1987 United States Billy Mayfair 4 & 3 United States Eric Rebmann Jupiter Hills Club
1986 United States Buddy Alexander 5 & 3 United States Chris Kite Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club
1985 United States Sam Randolph 1 up United States Peter Persons Montclair Golf Club
1984 United States Scott Verplank 4 & 3 United States Sam Randolph Oak Tree Golf Club
1983 United States Jay Sigel (2) 8 & 7 United States Chris Perry North Shore Country Club
1982 United States Jay Sigel 8 & 7 United States David Tolley The Country Club
1981 United States Nathaniel Crosby 1 up United States Brian Lindley Olympic Club
1980 United States Hal Sutton 9 & 8 United States Bob Lewis The Country Club of North Carolina
1979 United States Mark O'Meara 8 & 7 United States John Cook Canterbury Golf Club
1978 United States John Cook 5 & 4 United States Scott Hoch Plainfield Country Club
1977 United States John Fought 9 & 8 United States Doug Fischesser Aronimink Golf Club
1976 United States Bill Sander 8 & 6 United States Cary Parker Moore Jr. Bel-Air Country Club
1975 United States Fred Ridley 2 up United States Keith Fergus Country Club of Virginia
1974 United States Jerry Pate 2 & 1 United States John Grace Ridgewood Country Club
1973 United States Craig Stadler 6 & 5 United States David Strawn Inverness Club
1965–1972: Stroke play
1972 United States Vinny Giles 285 United States Mark Hayes,
United States Ben Crenshaw
Charlotte Country Club
1971 Canada Gary Cowan (2) 280 United States Eddie Pearce Wilmington Country Club
1970 United States Lanny Wadkins 279 United States Tom Kite Waverley Country Club
1969 United States Steve Melnyk 286 United States Vinny Giles Oakmont Country Club
1968 United States Bruce Fleisher 284 United States Vinny Giles Scioto Country Club
1967 United States Bob Dickson 285 United States Vinny Giles Broadmoor Golf Club
1966 Canada Gary Cowan 285 United States Deane Beman Merion Golf Club
1965 United States Bob Murphy 291 United States Bob Dickson Southern Hills Country Club
1895–1964: Match play
1964 United States William C. Campbell 1 up United States Ed Tutwiler Canterbury Golf Club
1963 United States Deane Beman (2) 2 & 1 United States R. H. Sikes Wakonda Club
1962 United States Labron Harris Jr. 1 up United States Downing Gray Pinehurst Resort
1961 United States Jack Nicklaus (2) 8 & 6 United States Dudley Wysong Pebble Beach Golf Links
1960 United States Deane Beman 6 & 4 United States Robert W. Gardner St. Louis Country Club
1959 United States Jack Nicklaus 1 up United States Charles Coe Broadmoor Golf Club
1958 United States Charles Coe (2) 5 & 4 United States Tommy Aaron Olympic Club
1957 United States Hillman Robbins 5 & 4 United States Bud Taylor The Country Club
1956 United States Harvie Ward (2) 5 & 4 United States Chuck Kocsis Knollwood Club
1955 United States Harvie Ward 9 & 8 United States Bill Hyndman Country Club of Virginia
1954 United States Arnold Palmer 1 up United States Robert Sweeny Jr. Country Club of Detroit
1953 United States Gene Littler 1 up United States Dale Morey Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club
1952 United States Jack Westland 3 & 2 United States Al Mengert Seattle Golf Club
1951 United States Billy Maxwell 4 & 3 United States Joe Gagliardi Saucon Valley Country Club
1950 United States Sam Urzetta 39th hole United States Frank Stranahan Minneapolis Golf Club
1949 United States Charles Coe 11 & 10 United States Rufus King Oak Hill Country Club
1948 United States Willie Turnesa (2) 2 & 1 United States Ray Billows Memphis Country Club
1947 United States Skee Riegel 2 & 1 United States Johnny Dawson Pebble Beach Golf Links
1946 United States Ted Bishop 37th hole United States Smiley Quick Baltusrol Golf Club
1942–1945: No championships due to World War II
1941 United States Bud Ward (2) 4 & 3 United States Pat Abbott Omaha Field Club
1940 United States Dick Chapman 11 & 9 United States Duff McCullough Winged Foot Golf Club
1939 United States Bud Ward 7 & 5 United States Ray Billows North Shore Country Club
1938 United States Willie Turnesa 8 & 7 United States Pat Abbott Oakmont Country Club
1937 United States Johnny Goodman 2 up United States Ray Billows Alderwood Country Club
1936 United States Johnny Fischer 37th hole Scotland Jack McLean Garden City Golf Club
1935 United States Lawson Little (2) 4 & 2 United States Walter Emery The Country Club
1934 United States Lawson Little 8 & 7 United States David Goldman The Country Club
1933 United States George Dunlap 6 & 5 United States Max Marston Kenwood Country Club
1932 Canada Ross Somerville 2 & 1 United States Johnny Goodman Baltimore Country Club
1931 United States Francis Ouimet (2) 6 & 5 United States Jack Westland Beverly Country Club
1930 United States Bobby Jones (5) 8 & 7 United States Eugene V. Homans Merion Golf Club
1929 United States Jimmy Johnston 4 & 3 United States Oscar Willing Pebble Beach Golf Links
1928 United States Bobby Jones (4) 10 & 9 England Philip Perkins Brae Burn Country Club
1927 United States Bobby Jones (3) 8 & 7 United States Chick Evans Minikahda Club
1926 United States George Von Elm 2 & 1 United States Bobby Jones Baltusrol Golf Club
1925 United States Bobby Jones (2) 8 & 7 United States Watts Gunn Oakmont Country Club
1924 United States Bobby Jones 9 & 8 United States George Von Elm Merion Golf Club
1923 United States Max Marston 38th hole United States Jess Sweetser Flossmoor Country Club
1922 United States Jess Sweetser 3 & 2 United States Chick Evans The Country Club
1921 United States Jesse Guilford 7 & 6 United States Robert Gardner St. Louis Country Club
1920 United States Chick Evans (2) 7 & 6 United States Francis Ouimet Engineers Country Club
1919 United States Davidson Herron 5 & 4 United States Bobby Jones Oakmont Country Club
1917–1918: No championships due to World War I
1916 United States Chick Evans 4 & 3 United States Robert Gardner Merion Golf Club
1915 United States Robert Gardner (2) 5 & 4 United States John G. Anderson Country Club of Detroit
1914 United States Francis Ouimet 6 & 5 United States Jerome Travers Ekwanok Country Club
1913 United States Jerome Travers (4) 5 & 4 United States John G. Anderson Garden City Golf Club
1912 United States Jerome Travers (3) 7 & 6 United States Chick Evans Chicago Golf Club
1911 England Harold Hilton 37th hole United States Fred Herreshoff The Apawamis Club
1910 United States William C. Fownes Jr. 4 & 3 United States Warren Wood The Country Club
1909 United States Robert Gardner 4 & 3 United States Chandler Egan Chicago Golf Club
1908 United States Jerome Travers (2) 8 & 7 United States Max H. Behr Garden City Golf Club
1907 United States Jerome Travers 6 & 5 United States Archibald Graham Euclid Club
1906 United States Eben Byers 2 up Canada George Lyon Englewood Golf Club
1905 United States Chandler Egan (2) 6 & 5 United States Daniel Sawyer Chicago Golf Club
1904 United States Chandler Egan 8 & 6 United States Fred Herreshoff Baltusrol Golf Club
1903 United States Walter Travis (3) 5 & 4 United States Eben Byers Nassau Country Club
1902 United States Louis N. James 4 & 2 United States Eben Byers Glen View Club
1901 United States Walter Travis (2) 5 & 4 United States Walter Egan Atlantic City Country Club
1900 United States Walter Travis 2 up Scotland Findlay S. Douglas Garden City Golf Club
1899 United States Herbert M. Harriman 3 & 2 Scotland Findlay S. Douglas Onwentsia Club
1898 Scotland Findlay S. Douglas 5 & 3 United States Walter B. Smith Morris County Golf Club
1897 Scotland H. J. Whigham (2) 8 & 6 United States W. Rossiter Betts Chicago Golf Club
1896 Scotland H. J. Whigham 8 & 7 United States Joseph G. Thorp Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
1895 United States Charles B. Macdonald 12 & 11 United States Charles Sands Newport Country Club

Multiple winners[edit]

Eighteen players have won more than one U.S. Amateur, through 2023:

Twelve players have won both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open Championships, through 2023:

Thirteen players have won both the U.S. Amateur and British Amateurs, through 2023:

Two players have won both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Junior Amateur through 2023:

  • Tiger Woods: 1994, 1995, 1996 Amateurs; 1991, 1992, 1993 Junior Amateur
  • Nick Dunlap: 2023 Amateur; 2021 Junior Amateur

Two players have won both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Amateur Public Links in the same year, through 2023:

^ 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[edit]

Future sites[edit]

Year Edition Course Location Dates Previous championships hosted
2024 124th Hazeltine National Golf Club Chaska, Minnesota August 12–18 2006
2025 125th Olympic Club San Francisco, California August 11–17 1958, 1981, 2007
2026 126th Merion Golf Club Ardmore, Pennsylvania August 10–16 1916, 1924, 1930, 1966, 1989, 2005
2027 127th Oak Hill Country Club Pittsford, New York August 9–15 1949, 1998
2029 129th Inverness Club Toledo, Ohio August 13–19 1973
2030 130th Atlanta Athletic Club Johns Creek, Georgia August 12–18 2014
2031 131st Honors Course Ooltewah, Tennessee August 11–17 1991
2032 132nd Bandon Dunes Golf Resort Bandon, Oregon TBD 2020
2033 133rd Chambers Bay University Place, Washington TBD 2010
2034 134th The Country Club Brookline, Massachusetts TBD 1910, 1922, 1934, 1957, 1982, 2013
2036 136th Scioto Country Club Upper Arlington, Ohio TBD 1968
2038 138th Pinehurst Resort Pinehurst, North Carolina TBD 1962, 2008, 2019
2041 141st Bandon Dunes Golf Resort Bandon, Oregon TBD 2020, 2032
2047 147th Oakland Hills Country Club Bloomfield Hills, Michigan TBD 2002, 2016
2051 151st Saucon Valley Country Club Bethlehem, Pennsylvania TBD 1951

Source[3][4]

Exemptions[edit]

The U.S. Amateur results lead to exemptions into other tournaments. Except for the U.S. Open exemption for the winner, the exemption holds only if the golfer retains their amateur status. All the exemptions listed below pertain to only the winner of the U.S. Amateur, unless otherwise stated.

Here are the major exemptions:

  • The next 10 years of the U.S. Amateur
  • The next 3 years of the U.S. Amateur (runner-up)
  • The next 2 years of the U.S. Amateur (semi-finalists)
  • The following year's U.S. Amateur (quarter-finalists)
  • The following year's U.S. Open (winner and runner-up) (winner is permitted to turn professional before the tournament)
  • The following year's Masters Tournament (winner and runner-up)
  • The following year's Open Championship[5]
  • The next 10 years of the Amateur Championship[6]

Here are the other exemptions:

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Changes Made to USGA Championship Roster" (Press release). United States Golf Association. February 11, 2013. Archived from the original on February 13, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  2. ^ "2018 Results". www.laacgolf.com. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  3. ^ "Inverness Club Selected to Host 2029 U.S. Amateur". United States Golf Association. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  4. ^ "2024 U.S. Amateur Fast Facts". United States Golf Association.
  5. ^ "The Open - Exemptions". www.theopen.com. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  6. ^ "The R&A - Conditions of Competition". www.randa.org. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  7. ^ "Exemptions – Monroe Invitational". www.monroeinvitational.com. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  8. ^ "Invitation Criteria". www.northeastamateur.com. Retrieved July 20, 2018.

External links[edit]

  • Official site - most of the information is in the archive sections