The men’s and women’s U.S. Open will now feature even more USGA champions.
The USGA announced Thursday that beginning next year, the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur champions on both the men’s and women’s side will be exempt into the following year’s U.S. Open.
In a statement, the USGA said that it was proud of its commitment to amateur golf and that these exemptions are “a true testament of the high caliber of these championships and their respective champions.”
For 2018, Noah Goodwin and Erica Shephard will be exempt into their respective championships, provided they remain an amateur. The U.S. Mid-Amateur is being contested this week at Capital City Club in Atlanta, while the Women’s Mid-Amateur will be held in November at Champions Golf Club in Houston.
Previously, the U.S. Junior champion earned a spot in that year’s U.S. Amateur and also received a three-year exemption into U.S. Open sectional qualifying. The U.S. Mid-Am champion, meanwhile, received an invitation to the Masters but not the U.S. Open (only sectional qualifying).
The 2018 U.S. Open will be held at Shinnecock, while the women head to Shoal Creek.
Source: Internet
