New-look final: USGA shakes it up at Pinehurst-hosted U.S. Am

4/2/2019 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

No. 14 at Pinehurst No. 2 (USGA/John Mummert)

For the first time in the U.S. Amateur's history, two courses will be used for the 36-hole championship match

There is perhaps no better venue than Pinehurst Resort to try different concepts in historic events. The USGA has announced a different twist to this summer’s Pinehurst-hosted U.S. Amateur: For the first time in the event’s 119-year history, the 36-hole championship match will be played on two different courses.

When the 2019 championship begins on Monday, Aug. 12, Pinehurst No. 2 and No. 4 will host the stroke-play rounds, which will be played as normal over two days and 36 holes to trim the field from 312 players to 64 for match play. The first five rounds of match play – through the semifinals – will be played on No. 2 from Aug. 14-17.

Here’s where the change comes into play. The championship match, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 18, will open with the morning round on No. 4, which was recently redesigned by Gil Hanse. The afternoon round will be played on No. 2, a classic Donald Ross design that was restored by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw in 2011.

“These two courses complement each other aesthetically and strategically, and it will be fun to see how the players react and approach both courses on the day they vie for a national championship,” said Tom Pashley, president of Pinehurst Resort, which will also host its fourth U.S. Open in 2024.

Pinehurst No. 2 became the first USGA venue in history to host the U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Open in back-to-back weeks in 2014.

About the US Amateur

The U.S. Amateur, the oldest USGA championship, was first played in 1895 at Newport Golf Club in Rhode Island. The event, which has no age restriction, is open to those with a Handicap Index of .4 (point four) or lower. It is one of 15 national champ...

Most Popular Articles

2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Guide: Sites, Scores, and Who Advanced

Dec 5, 2025Second Stage is complete and Final Stage awaits at Sawgrass — follow every Q-School leaderboard and the players still chasing

2025 LPGA TOUR Q-Series: Final Qualifying Stage FINAL SCORING

Dec 8, 2025Helen Briem earns medalist honors, 31 players headed to the LPGA next year

2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Final Stage: Ewart Leads Five New TOUR Card Winners

Dec 14, 2025A.J. Ewart topped Final Stage at TPC Sawgrass, leading five players who secured PGA TOUR membership for 2026.

Australian Open at Royal Melbourne: Preview, amateur bios, and how to watch

Nov 30, 2025Rory McIlroy headlines one of the championship's top fields in years - at least four amateurs will have their chance at glory

Inside Gil Hanse’s Restoration of Baltusrol’s Upper Course: A Return to Tillinghast’s

Dec 11, 2025Renowned architect Gil Hanse reveals how he brought Baltusrol’s Upper Course back to life by honoring A.W. Tillinghast’s original

Filters

Related Tournament

US Amateur

View Details

Loading latest news...