Wyndham Clark emerged victorious in last year's U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, becoming the fifth consecutive champion to secure his first major title, marking the longest streak in over 50 years. The upcoming U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club's Course No. 2 in North Carolina is already generating significant interest, with nearly 3,000 golfers submitting applications within eight hours of online entry commencement.
In the previous year, a record-breaking 10,187 players entered qualifying for the 2023 U.S. Open, with 64 players successfully advancing through the rigorous qualifying rounds. The surge in entries this year hints at a similar level of enthusiasm, especially considering Pinehurst's status as a renowned golf destination and a USGA anchor site for future championships.
Entry submissions for the U.S. Open will be accepted until April 10, with a heightened qualification requirement of a handicap index of 0.4 or below for players. The qualifying process will involve local qualifiers across the U.S. and Canada, followed by 36-hole final qualifying at 13 global sites.
Since 2004, the U.S. Open has consistently featured an average of around 74 players in the final field who successfully navigated the qualifying stages. USGA Chief Championships Officer John Bodenhamer expressed optimism about the strong global interest in the championship and the opportunity to showcase Pinehurst Resort and Country Club once again.
