[PHOTO: David Cannon]
The USGA has awarded Merion Golf Club a third future US Open.
The historic club outside Philadelphia was originally announced to host the 2030 championship to coincide with the 100th year anniversary of Bobby Jones’ completion of the Grand Slam at Merion with his US Amateur triumph. Additionally, Merion is also scheduled to host the 2050 US Open to honour another centenary, with this celebration marking Ben Hogan’s comeback from his near-fatal car accident. Overnight, the USGA announced Merion will be on a 10-year cadence as US Open host, with the championship set to return in 2040.
“For well over a century, Merion has served as the site of some of American golf’s most iconic moments,” said John Bodenhamer, chief championships officer of the USGA. “Our relationship with the club and its membership continues to grow, and when we looked at our future line-up for the US Open, we wanted to enhance our upcoming commitment with a more regular cadence. We are thrilled to be able to return to such an important club on a regular basis and look forward to watching the world’s best write new chapters in the history of this great game.”
In 2020 the USGA signalled a new strategy for its championships, reducing the number of venues for its premier events and introducing a rotation of sorts around a handful of sites. Along with its intended US Opens, Merion will also host future USGA championships with the 2026 US Amateur and the 2034 and 2046 US Women’s Opens. To date, Merion has hosted 19 USGA championships, the most of any venue. Its last US Open hosting duties were in 2013, when Justin Rose claimed his major breakthrough.
The 2024 US Open will begin on June 13 at Pinehurst No.2. Wyndham Clark is the defending champion.
