U.S. Open, the USGA's Major Golf Championship
Jun 18 – Jun 21, 2026
The U.S. Open is golf's most democratic major — anyone with a low enough handicap index can try to qualify, and a handful of amateurs earn their way into the field every June.
We track the amateurs from local and final qualifying all the way to the championship: who's in the field, how they got there, and how they fare against the world's best.
Latest coverage
277 stories in our archiveAmateur Tracker — U.S. Open: Follow the Amateurs at Shinnecock
Ryder Cowan paces the five amateurs to make the weekend, the most in recent history
June 17, 2026Jackson Koivun to Turn Pro After U.S. Open, Closing Historic Auburn Career
College golf's most decorated amateur is going pro. Jackson Koivun will play the U.S. Open, then debut on the PGA Tour.
June 12, 2026U.S. Open: Arni Sveinsson will be the first male Icelandic player to play
The LSU Tiger from Reykjavik posted rounds of 68-67 at The Lakes in Ohio to earn his spot at Shinnecock
June 10, 2026U.S. Open Final at Gastonia, NC: Five happy players include AG alum Cole Hammer
Future Florida Gator Jackson Ormond advances, while Bill Haas fires 63 in the morning but runs out of gas in the afternoon
June 9, 2026NOTEBOOK: U.S. Open Final Qualifying Sacramento, California
Three of the four players players who advanced at Del Paso C.C. were amateurs, paced by Oklahoma State star Eric Lee
June 9, 20262026 U.S. Open Final Qualifying: A final rundown from Golf's Longest Day
12 amateurs qualified for Shinnecock at 10 sites around the country on June 8. Two of them were medalists.
June 8, 2026U.S. Open Final: Jackson Suber earns medalist honors to advance to his second Open
A recap of all of the action from Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland
June 8, 2026GOLF'S LONGEST DAY: 2026 U.S. Open Final Qualifying Monday June 8
Follow along from 10 locations - our team is on the ground looking for the best stories
June 5, 2026U.S. Open Final at Dallas Athletic Club: LIV Golfers rise from the dead
Peter Uihlein wins the medal, Caleb Surratt wins a playoff, and a sour Sergio tosses his card in the trash can and goes home
May 19, 20262026 U.S. Open Final Qualifying: Kimsey Cruises at Walton Heath
Englishman Nathan Kimsey fires a second-round 62 to win medalist honors at Walton Heath by two. Dallas Athletic Club still in play
May 18, 20262026 U.S. Open Local Qualifying Results: All 109 Sites + Leaderboards
Live results from all 109 U.S. Open Local Qualifying sites. Site-by-site medalists, amateurs, and alternates
May 14, 2026If You’re Entering the U.S. Open, Read This First: 2026 Qualifying Explained
110 locals. One Longest Day. Zero margin. Here’s what you need to know before filing for the 2026 U.S. Open.
February 16, 20262025 Puget Sound Amateur at Chambers Bay | Jordan Spieth’s U.S. Open Course
The 60th Puget Sound Amateur at Chambers Bay, where Jordan Spieth won the 2015 U.S.Open
October 24, 2025125th U.S. Open Championship Live Scoring and Amateur Tracker
Full tournament details, broadcast info, and a live tracker of every amateur player
June 9, 2025Sean Walsh's Filmed U.S. Open Journey and What Amateurs Can Learn
One golfer's quest for the U.S. Open, captured shot-by-shot—from a blistering local 63 to the brutal test of "Golf's Longest Day."
June 3, 2025Mason Howell, 17, Qualifies for U.S. Open
High school junior Mason Howell fired two bogey-free 63s to qualify for the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont.
June 2, 2025Golf’s Longest Day: Previewing June 2 U.S. Open Final Qualifying
Who will survive Golf’s Longest Day? Ten sites, 36 holes, and one last shot at the U.S. Open await on June 2.
May 31, 2025U.S. Open Final Qualifying: Detailed coverage
Ten amateurs are Oakmont-bound after conquering Golf’s Longest Day—see who made it, how they did it, and who might join them
May 28, 20252025 US Open Final in Dallas: Two amateurs advance, one comes just short in a playoff
Lance Simpson and Cameron Tankersley punched their tickets to Oakmont as the only amateurs to qualify from Bent Tree.
May 20, 2025Complete: U.S. Open Local Qualifying
The final spot was claimed by former San Diego State golfer Youssef Guezzele, who made his trip to Alaska worthwhile
May 19, 2025Amateurs who advanced from the 2025 U.S. Open Local Qualifying
254 amateurs are one step closer to Oakmont. Now the battle begins.
May 14, 2025From TikTok to U.S. Open hopeful: Evan Thompson Medals
Once doubted by critics online, Evan Thompson is now letting his scorecard do the talking
May 14, 2025Tony Romo Falls Just Short at U.S. Open Qualifying Amid Brutal Conditions in Texas
Despite battling wind and firm greens, Tony Romo's gritty 1-under 71 wasn’t enough to advance at Heath Golf & Yacht Club
May 13, 2025The Road to Oakmont: Previewing the 2025 U.S. Open Final Qualifying Venues
From iconic parklands to rugged links, these 13 Final Qualifying sites will determine who earns the last golden tickets to Oakmont
May 13, 2025Who are the youngest players to ever compete in the US Open?
At 14, Raymond ReBell won a playoff at Local Qualifying to advance to the next stage. His achievement got us thinking.
May 4, 2025A record-breaking U.S. Open: What 10,202 entries say about the state of golf
From 13-year-olds to past champions, golf's most open championship is thriving like never before
April 15, 2025OUR PICKS: Top U.S. Open Local Qualifying Sites
Private clubs, resorts, and great places you can tee it up in an attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open
February 21, 2025USGA announces exemption categories for 2025 U.S. Open Championship
The USGA creates a new category to create pathway for LIV Golf’s top performers
February 5, 2025Colin Prater, the science teacher who played the 2024 U.S. Open, captures Colorado Am
The now 3-time champ Prater, 29, is the oldest winner in 25 years, breaking a trend of teenage champs like Wyndham Clark
August 5, 2024Amateur Golf Pod: Neal Shipley wins Low Am at U.S. Open after duel with Luke Clanton
The recent Ohio Statae grad joins elite group who has won Masters and U.S. Open Low Amateur
June 17, 2024U.S. Open: Neal Shipley holds off Luke Clanton to earn low amateur honors
Shipley becomes the first golfer to win low amateur at the U.S. Open and the Masters since Viktor Hovland in 2019
June 16, 2024U.S. Open: Luke Clanton, Neal Shipley battling for low amateur honors
The two amateurs are paired up with each other in the final round, so they will know exactly where the other stands
June 15, 2024Neal Shipley leads the amateurs through round one of the U.S. Open
Shipley will look to be the first golfer to win low amateur at the U.S. Open and the Masters since Viktor Hovland in 2019
June 13, 2024U.S. Open: Everything you need to know
The 124th U.S. Open will tee of Thursday, June 13 and will be covered from all angles by NBC, Peacock, and USA Network
June 13, 2024Meet the Amateurs in the 2024 U.S. Open
Gordon Sargent, the low amateur at the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, is back in the field at Pinehurst
June 11, 2024Here is when all the amateurs tee off at the U.S. Open
Gordon Sargent is playing with two of the longest drivers on tour, and Ben James gets to play with a fellow Cavalier
June 11, 2024Amateur Golf Podcast: Amateurs at the U.S. Open
Sean and Justin do a weekly roundup and discuss when Jackson Koivun earn his PGA Tour card? Plus, we pick a U.S. Open low amateur
June 11, 2024Four holes to watch during the U.S. Open
Pinehurst No. 2 is a beast, and there are holes early and late in the round with wicked greens that could swing the championship
June 11, 2024Colin Prater is ready for his U.S. Open debut
The 29-year-old teacher has played in his fair share of big golf events, but this is the biggest of his career by a longshot
June 8, 2024After missing out last year, Jackson Buchanan is heading to the U.S. Open
The Illinois junior made a bogey on the last hole at final qualifying to miss the U.S. Open last year by one shot
June 7, 2024
Showing the 40 most recent of 277 stories.
U.S. Open — frequently asked
Can amateurs play in the U.S. Open?
Yes. The U.S. Open is open to any professional and any amateur with a Handicap Index of 0.4 or lower. Amateurs earn their place through the same local and final qualifying as everyone else.
How do amateurs qualify for the U.S. Open?
Through two stages: 18-hole local qualifying at sites across the country, then 36-hole final qualifying ("Golf's Longest Day"). Top finishers earn exemptions into the championship.
Do amateurs keep their amateur status playing the U.S. Open?
Yes — amateurs retain their status as long as they do not accept prize money. The low amateur in the field is recognized but does not collect the corresponding professional purse.