NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ON – After nearly 20 years of educating aspiring young golf enthusiasts, Niagara College Canada has decided to move its Professional Golf Management (PGM) program to its 3-year Sport Management program by September 2019. This means that the college will not be accepting new students into its PGM program this fall. All 2017 first year golf applicants will be directed to the college’s very successful Sport Management program. 

Given the needs of Canada’s changing golf industry, the college decided the sport management program better meets the challenges the industry faces. By providing a broader education (that will include golf), it was determined that a transition to sport better positions Niagara College graduates for a career in either sport or golf management.  

For current 1st and 2nd year PGM students, the college will fulfill its commitment by offering years 2 and 3 of the existing PGM program in 2017-18 and 2018-19 so they can graduate with a Business Administration diploma in Professional Golf Management. For the next two years, it will be business as usual meaning the program will continue on undisrupted. 

“While this decision may come as surprise to some, I think it was a good move by Niagara College to go in this direction,” says program coordinator Grant Fraser, who supported the programming shift toward sport management. “Sport Management at Niagara College is a 3-year program comprised of a great assortment of business and sport related courses that not only meet the needs of Canada’s changing golf marketplace but also the PGA of Canada’s current educational requirements for individuals interested in becoming a Class A professional, ” says Fraser. 

Michael Santoro, Fraser’s counterpart and coordinator of the Sport Management program at Niagara College agrees and says moving golf into sport is a logical progression and an easy transition to make. “In September 2016, Sport Management received more than 400 applications for 80 spots in our program. Students who are interested in a career in golf should take a serious look at broadening their education through our Sport Management program because it provides a variety of options and career choices in golf and other sport sectors,” says Santoro.

Looking back, Fraser says he hopes the legacy of the PGM program at Niagara College will be one that has served Canada’s golf industry well. “There are hundreds of Niagara College PGM graduates working across Canada contributing to the business and development of golf and that is what I am most proud of,” says Fraser who initiated the program at Niagara College in 1999 and has taught every student who has been through the program over the last eighteen years. 

With the 15^th graduating class set to receive diplomas in the spring of 2017, the PGM program at Niagara College will have an alumni base of approximately 500 graduates who will continue to make invaluable contributions to Canada’s golf industry. 

“The cry for the simplification of the Rules of Golf is a stock-in-trade of the journalist during the winter months. Countless words on the subject have been poured out to an ever-tolerant public, but still the long-sought simplification does not come.” Henry Longhurst, 1937

And here I thought I had come up with a novel idea for this blog. Turns out iconic golf writer Longhurst was 80 years ahead of me.

His quote can be found in the opening pages of a small volume called The Rules of Golf in Plain English. Now in its fourth edition, the book is co-authored by two Texas lawyers. Jeff Kuhn is a top-rated Rules official. Bryan Garner is a renowned expert in reducing legalese to something understandable by any layman.

Their book does exactly as the title implies. Approved by the USGA, its contents are organized in a more logical, understandable and readable manner than the standard Rule book.  (You can purchase it online.)

But, with all due respect to Mr. Longhurst, history has proven one of his assertions false. The golfing public is most definitely not “ever-tolerant.”

The fact that The Rules of Golf in Plain English exists is an indictment of the complexity of the Rules of Golf. The result is that while many golfers have a real interest in the Rules, they lack the inclination to spend hours scratching their heads over the convoluted regulations. (I am not saying this simply because I am bitter about doing miserably earlier this week in my first sample exam as I study for my Level 3 Rules of Golf certification. Really, I’m not.)

If you don’t believe me, take it from Adam Helmer. Few are more qualified to comment than Helmer, Golf Canada’s Director of Rules, Competitions and Amateur Status. He holds the highest possible Rules certification from Golf Canada, the R&A and the USGA and has officiated at elite tournaments such as the RBC Canadian Open, Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, the U.S. Open and The Players Championship.

“It’s very challenging for competitors in a sport where, for the most part, there are no officials, how are you supposed to play by the Rules if you don’t know or can’t understand them? It’s tough to do the right thing if you don’t know what the right thing is.”

But there may yet be hope.

Next month, at least a corner of the curtain will be lifted on the work being done by a Rules of Golf modernization task force.

The Joint Rules Committee, made up of representatives from the USGA, R&A and a Golf Canada delegate, is promising sweeping clarification of the Rules book from cover to cover.  After months of feedback and revisions, a new code will be published in 2020 at the latest.

“Nothing was untouched, nothing was sacred,” Helmer says. “The process is viewed as overdue by many, but I believe the result will be well worth waiting for.”

Helmer says important aspects of the task force’s mission included how to better educate golfers, both everyday golfers and elite players, with an emphasis on technology, a concept that was also mentioned by USGA Executive Director Mike Davis at his association’s annual meeting earlier this month.

“How come we can’t have an instance where someone can [use their iPhone] and say, ‘Siri, I hit my ball into a water hazard. What are my options?”

Sounds wonderful. Any chance they can speed up the process before I write my final Rules exam in April?

Play at the Honda LPGA Thailand was called at due to unplayable course conditions brought on by severe weather at the Pattaya Old Course.

“We were hoping we could get out and play some more golf. All four of us (LPGA Rules Officials) went out and looked, and there is just too much of a mess out there to be able to go and play today,” said LPGA Vice President of Rules and Competition Sue Witters. “It’ll take them a long time to restore the bunkers and pump the water out. We’re not going to play anymore today, and we’ll resume play at 7:00 tomorrow to finish round two.” 

The second round got underway at 9:38 a.m. but was delayed at 11:24 a.m. local time due to inclement weather in the area. Players returned to the course at 12:19 p.m. after a 55 minute delay but were quickly pulled off the course again at 12:39 p.m. when the storms returned. 

The final group of Ariya Jutanugarn, Amy Yang and Sei Young Kim did not tee off while the penultimate group of Minjee Lee, Ryann O’Toole and Shanshan Feng only hit their tee shots on the first hole before being called in.

Jutanugarn and Yang continue to lead at 6-under with Lee, O’Toole and Feng a shot back. Also a shot back are Danielle Kang and Cristie Kerr who both birided the par-5 first hole.

Ha Na Jang had the low round on the course at 3-under through eight holes to move into a tie for ninth at 4-under par.

Second round competition will resume at 7 a.m. tomorrow. Projected round three starting times will be 10:30 a.m. – 12:42 p.m.. Players will remain in their round two pairing for round three.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – One reason Martin Kaymer enjoys the Honda Classic is because he doesn’t feel as though he has to make a bunch of birdies.

On such a serene Thursday at PGA National, that was required to keep pace.

A pair of PGA Tour rookies who last played this course at Q-school for the Web.com Tour, Cody Gribble and Wesley Bryan, each opened with a 6-under 64 in the morning and it stood the rest of the day. The wind never really materialized. The greens remained soft from a big rain the day before.

More than half of the field was at par or better.

Kaymer, a two-time major champion from Germany playing on a sponsor exemption, chipped in from behind the 17th green for birdie and closed with a two-putt birdie from 40 feet for a 65. He was one shot behind, along with Anirban Lahiri of India.

“I felt very calm over the ball,” Kaymer said. “I enjoy the golf course. When you stand on the first tee, you don’t feel like you need to make five or six birdies. It’s a ball-striking golf course, but even level par or 1-over par is a very good round.

“It was very soft and there was not much wind,” he said. “Once you miss the fairway, it was actually OK from the rough because the greens are soft. I’ve not played the golf course in easier conditions.”

Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., Rickie Fowler and Ian Poulter found it the same way. They were part of a large group at 66. Sergio Garcia was headed in that direction until he pulled his tee shot left on the par-3 fifth hole and made double bogey, added a pair of other bogeys and recovered with a birdie on his final hole for a 68. He was in the group with defending champion Adam Scott.

Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., and David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., were at 1-under 69.

“If the weather stays good and it’s able to dry out, I don’t see the golf course getting any easier,” Fowler said.

It was an important start for Poulter, who is playing on a medical extension from a foot injury last year and has only six PGA Tour events left to earn either $220,301 or 154 FedEx Cup points to retain his full status.

“I’m on borrowed time,” said Poulter, who has slipped to No. 206 in the world. “A win would be nice. I have to think that I’ve got a chance, I really do. The situation I’m in, I have to be aggressive, but I’ve got to be careful. I can’t make many mistakes.”

Bryan is coming off his best tournament, a tie for fourth at Riviera in which he got within two shots of Dustin Johnson toward the end of the third round. It took him awhile to get going in warm, calm weather, and he finished with a 30 on the front nine.

Gribble already has won this season at the Sanderson Farms Championship last fall while the top players were in Shanghai. He missed four straight cuts on the West Coast and finally got his swing back to where he wants it. Along with birdies on three of the par 3s, he hit all 18 greens in regulation.

Bryan, still more known for the trick-shot videos he makes with his brother, can feel his confidence starting to grow.

And it helped to be on familiar turf.

“I think the comfort out here this week … yeah, I got into some pretty good form, but out here on the golf course, I got through Q-school just about 14 months ago, and it’s a place that I’m comfortable at and a golf course I know,” he said.

He picked up a rare birdie on the sixth hole, one of two that have been converted from par 5s to par 4s for the Honda Classic, followed that with a 12-foot par save and then a 10-foot birdie on No. 8 to join Gribble in the lead.

Gribble’s PGA Tour journey started a year earlier than Bryan’s. He tied for eighth at Q-school in December 2014 to get onto the Web.com Tour. He did well enough in the final event to earn his card, and a month later he was a PGA Tour winner.

“This is one of the tournaments I like to play,” Gribble said. “I played it well in Q-school a couple years ago. I’ve got some good memories.”

There weren’t a lot of good memories over the last month, missing the cut in three straight events starting with the Phoenix Open. But the Texan has been grinding away with his coach the last few weeks and it’s starting to take hold.

“We both know exactly how we want the ball to come out. We want less curve. I tend to draw it too much,” Gribble said. “I know we wanted more a cut swing, but kind of finally … it’s hard to explain. It clicked today, but it could be lost again tomorrow. You never know. It was a great start, and hopefully I can build on it.”

It helped to have a birdie putt on every hole. His lone bogey was a long three-putt on the 16th hole.

Roland Deveau of Bedford, N.S., nominated to serve a second term as Golf Canada President

TORONTO – Golf Canada’s 2017 Annual General Meeting (AGM) is set for this week (February 23-25) at the Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport Hotel in Toronto.

The event brings together Golf Canada’s Board of Directors, committee volunteers and staff as well as representatives from Canada’s provincial golf associations and stakeholders from within the golf industry including international representatives from the R&A and USGA. The group will assemble for three days of meetings, presentations and discussion in preparation for the upcoming golf season.

The Annual General Meeting will culminate with the appointment of Roland A. Deveau of Bedford, N.S., to serve a second term as the National Sport Federation’s volunteer President. Deveau joins Alfred Collyer (1930-31), F.A. Rolph (1915-1919), Col. George A. Sweeney (1898, 1901 & 1909) and A.W. Austin (1907 & 1910) as the fifth President to serve multiple or consecutive terms.

Deveau’s nomination to serve a second term was supported by Golf Canada’s Nominating Committee and Board of Directors as the association works through a leadership transition to hire a CEO successor to Scott Simmons who stepped down earlier this month after 10 years. Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer is currently serving in the role as interim CEO and a new CEO is expected to be named in April 2017.

The formal appointment of Deveau as President along with the release of the association’s 2016 financial statements will take place during Golf Canada’s official Annual General Meeting on Saturday, February 25^th at 5:00pm ET.

As part of the AGM, Golf Canada will also present its Volunteer of the Year Award in acknowledgment of outstanding contributions to the game of golf in Canada. In addition, the association will pay tribute to Simmons’ tenure as Golf Canada’s CEO.

A full itinerary of presentations taking place during Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting is available here.

A copy of Golf Canada’s 2017 Strategic Plan is available here.

GOLF CANADA – LOVE THE GAME. GROW THE GAME.

Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada representing 307,500 golfers and more than 1,400 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s mission is to grow participation, excellence and passion in the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. By investing in the growth of the sport and introducing more participants of all ages to the game, our goal is to be relevant to and respected by all Canadian golf enthusiasts from coast to coast. For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit www.golfcanada.ca.

PATTAYA, Thailand – Ariya Jutanugarn and Amy Yang both shot 6-under 66 in the first round Thursday to take a share of the lead at the LPGA Thailand.

Jutanugarn, a Thai ranked second in the world, had six birdies while Yang, the 2015 champion, had seven birdies and a bogey at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course.

“In the middle, during the round, I had some time I couldn’t control the ball, but I still had a lot of good shots,” said Yang, who is from Taiwan. “Gave myself a lot of good opportunities out there.”

Ryann O’Toole, Sei Young Kim, Minjee Lee and Shanshan Feng were a stroke behind the leaders.

Top-ranked Lydia Ko (70) had five birdies and three bogeys, while former No. 1 Inbee Park shot a 72 in her first action since winning the Olympic gold medal last year.

“I don’t feel much of the injury anymore,” said Park, the winner in Pattaya in 2013. “Ball-striking was really good today. Just around the greens wasn’t as sharp as I wanted. Obviously that’s just going to happen. Just got to be patient.”

LA QUINTA, Calif.  – Kimberley, B.C., product Jared du Toit has been knocking at the door for some time with the Arizona State Sun Devils, before finally breaking through on Wednesday with a victory at the Prestige at PGA WEST.

The Team Canada Amateur Squad member finished the 54-hole event at 9-under par (67-67-70), four strokes clear of runner-up Sam Burns of LSU. The 21-year-old posted 13 birdies en route to the victory—his first with the Sun Devils. The team’s captain came up just shy of earning medallist honours earlier this month, where he finished tied for first after falling in a playoff.

Prior to his time at Arizona State, du Toit collected a pair of first place finishes playing for the Idaho Vandals. He captured a T1 finish in his sophomore season at the Wyoming Southern Dunes before capping off his year in stellar fashion with a victory at the Big Sky Championship.

du Toit will lead the Sun Devils into action next on Feb. 27-28 at the NIT Invitational.

Click here for full scoring.

Got. That. Trophy. (and @Jareddutoit plans to get more)@MattThurmond@vanwilliamsgolf@ASUKarsten@TheGolfCanada @RBCCanadianOpen @AZ_GOLF pic.twitter.com/SLx47bPWdt

— ASUmensgolf (@asumensgolf) February 23, 2017

Finally a victory wearing the Maroon and gold. Thanks to all for the love! #ForksUp https://t.co/Lk2RdAYF85

— Jared du Toit (@Jareddutoit) February 23, 2017

Oakville, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada and Acura have announced a three-year extension and expansion of their partnership in which Acura will become the Presenting Sponsor and Official Vehicle of Future Links – Canada’s national junior golf program.

Future Links, driven by Acura, is a joint grassroots initiative of Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada and the provincial golf associations which offers a full suite of junior golf programs for boys and girls ages 6 to 18—from beginners to those with more experience or greater playing ability.

For Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer and interim CEO Jeff Thompson, Acura’s enhanced support of Canada’s national junior golf program will help to deliver quality golf experiences to youth from coast to coast.

“Acura has been a tremendous partner since aligning their respected brand with Canada’s national junior golf program in 2014 and we are thrilled with their deepened commitment to Future Links, driven by Acura,” said Thompson. “With world-class junior golf curriculum that is internationally revered by golf federations around the world, we are proud that Acura will continue to drive the program’s success moving forward.”

Future Links, driven by Acura includes a comprehensive suite of junior golf activities for children of all ages and skill level. The program has been restructured under three core areas of focus—in-school programming, facility programming and community outreach.

Elements under the Future Links junior golf umbrella include Learn to Play, Junior League, Girl’s Club, Mobile Clinics, Junior Skills Competition, and Community Golf Coach, along with six regional Future Links Junior Championships.

Beginning in 2017, Golf Canada has also integrated the popular Golf in Schools program under the Future Links suite of junior golf activities. With more than 400,000 children currently learning golf at nearly 3,400 schools (elementary, intermediate and high schools) as part of the Canadian Physical Education curriculum, Future Links, driven by Acura is supporting quality junior golf experiences from in-schools to on-course at clubs across Canada.

“Acura is committed to supporting various youth initiatives across Canada and we are delighted to expand our commitment to Golf Canada and their respected programs, as this partnership is a natural alignment of the two brands,” said Dave Gardner, Senior Vice President of Operations, Acura, a division of Honda Canada Inc. “With luxury comfort, dynamic performance and a versatile passenger and cargo cabin, the Acura MDX luxury SUV will help drive the future success of the Mobile Clinics across Canada.”

As the official vehicle of Canada’s national junior golf program, Acura will also provide each of the 10 provincial golf associations with the current model year MDX vehicle—decaled in Future Links, driven by Acura branding—to deliver Mobile Clinics across Canada.

Each fully equipped vehicle will be staffed with a PGA of Canada professional travelling to locations across each province to teach juniors golf introductory lessons. Future Links, driven by Acura Mobile Clinics will bring golf to children at almost any location including parks, recreation centres, schools and golf facilities.

Under the leadership of PGA of Canada golf professionals, Future Links driven by Acura programs help young golfers develop the technical skills, appropriate attitude and self-confidence to succeed on the golf course, while instilling positive life lessons to succeed off the course.

“This is an exciting extension and expansion for the Future Links brand,” said PGA of Canada CEO Gary Bernard. “Since the program’s inception in 1996 the PGA of Canada and Golf Canada have seen more than 1-million kids go through Future Links and I feel this terrific initiative will only enhance the world-class junior golf program.”

In 2016, 85,000 junior golfers participated in one or more elements of Future Links, including 60,000 juniors who took part in more than 750 Future Links Mobile Clinics across the country.

Acura’s enhanced support for Future Links returns the junior golf program to solid footing after long-time partner Canadian National Railway (CN) stepped away following 11 years of sponsorship.

“Thanks to Acura, Canadian junior golf is well positioned for success moving forward for 2017 and beyond,” added Thompson. “Future Links has had the good fortune of strong supporting partners since its inception and that will surely continue going forward with Acura’s shared vision to support junior golf activities across Canada.”

Future Links, driven by Acura junior golf programming is fully aligned with the Canadian Golf Long-Term Player Development Guide. Developed by Golf Canada in partnership with the PGA of Canada, LTPD provides an age- and stage-based blueprint for golfer development rooted on research, statistics and expert insight.

Since launching in 1996, Canada’s national junior golf program has introduced golf to more than 1.3 million children, providing junior golfers across Canada with affordable and accessible golf activities in their community. More information is available at golfcanada.ca/futurelinks

With no status on the PGA Tour this year, Mike Weir spent Wednesday at a place filled with good memories – Augusta National Golf Club.

The 2003 Masters champion tried to qualify Monday for this week’s Honda Classic in Florida but missed by five shots. He also tried last Monday to qualify for the PGA Tour’s Genesis Open in Los Angeles. Again, he missed by five.

He headed to the storied layout in Augusta, Ga., for the first time in 2017 on Wednesday morning.

“Every time I get there, I love that place,” Weir said Tuesday night. “It’s always really special.”

Having used both exemptions available to him because of his place on the all-time money list – the 46-year-old currently sits 32nd with almost $28 million in career winnings – Weir is left with few options to try to get into PGA Tour fields.

As a Masters champion, however, he receives a lifetime exemption into that tournament in April and can play the legendary course as often as he wants.

“I don’t have any status to play so in order to stay sharp I have to try to qualify,” said Weir. “Going to Augusta to play some rounds and get ready for that event that I know I’m in will be good.”

Unlike in years past when Weir has been battling injuries, the native of Brights Grove, Ont., said he’s feeling healthy now. It’s living in the cold climate of Utah that has been tough on his preparation, he said.

“Everything feels good, I haven’t had any setbacks. I just haven’t played a whole lot,” he said. “I’ve tried some of these Monday qualifiers coming out of the cold in Utah, only hitting balls indoors. I haven’t had a lot of work except for indoor work, really. My body feels good right now though.”

He is a two-time champion of the Genesis Open but his request for a sponsor’s exemption into that tournament was declined, which is why he tried qualifying instead.

His long-time relationship with RBC has also ended, meaning it’s up in the air if he will get into the RBC Heritage the week after the Masters. While the loss of sponsorship has meant blacking out the RBC logo on his golf bag, he will likely play in this summer’s RBC Canadian Open, where he remains a fan favourite.

Despite the uncertainty of his upcoming schedule, he said he felt like be belonged on the tour when he was playing Pebble Beach a few weeks ago.

“Without a doubt I feel that,” he said. “I hadn’t played very much and I was coming out of the cold not playing a lot of rounds so I was a little rusty. My game was very good, especially the last couple of rounds. There were some definite improvements. The things that I had been struggling with were getting much better. I felt like I was very competitive.”

Weir has battled personal and injury issues in the past few years, making just one cut since the 2014 season when he earned $854,413. He said he could relate to the current struggles of Tiger Woods, who has been in and out of the PGA Tour over the last 18 months and has an uncertain future.

“I hope for his sake that his body can move correctly and he can get back to being Tiger Woods again, whatever that looks like at 40-plus years old,” said Weir. “Clearly right now he’s not feeling good and his game isn’t feeling good. I can commiserate because that’s a tough thing to go through. In this day and age, every shot is scrutinized and picked apart and that’s probably not the best scenario for him to come back to, but that’s unfortunately the world he lives in.”

It’s not certain if Woods will return in time for this year’s Masters, but Weir will definitely be there. And he hopes a return to Augusta this week will re-energize his game and get him back playing on tour more frequently.

“This year I’m a little more intent on getting some extra practice in,” he said. “I don’t think this will be the first trip I make to Augusta before the Masters. I plan to come in a few times which I haven’t done in a few years. I plan on playing a few more rounds before the tournament. My body feels good right now though, and hopefully I’ll get a chance to play again soon.”

A total of 114 local qualifiers will be conducted in 44 states and Canada for the 117th U.S. Open Championship, which will be contested June 15-18 at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis. The 18-hole qualifiers are scheduled to take place from May 2-18. Golf Canada is hosting a local qualifier for the first time.

“The support provided by state and regional golf associations, along with Golf Canada, will allow thousands of golfers from around the world, both professional and amateur, to take part in the two-tiered process of U.S. Open qualifying,” said Stuart Francis, USGA Championship Committee chairman. “We are pleased to conduct an international local qualifier for the first time in Canada as we continue to expand qualifying opportunities around the globe for all of our USGA championships.”

Beacon Hall Golf Club, in Aurora, Ontario, will host the local Canadian qualifier on Monday, May 8. The course, designed by Bob Cupp, opened for play in 1988. The outward nine is lined by stands of pine trees while the inward nine features fescue and waste bunkers.

Those players who advance out of local qualifying will compete in sectional qualifying, which will be conducted over 36 holes at 10 U.S. sites on Monday, June 5. For the 13th consecutive year, Japan and England will host international sectional qualifying, both scheduled in late May.

In 2016, the USGA accepted 9,877 entries for the championship at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club. The record of 10,127 was established for the 2014 championship at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2, in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.

Thirty-eight courses return as U.S. Open local qualifying sites from last year and several have a long history as hosts. Illini Country Club, in Springfield, Ill., has conducted a U.S. Open qualifier in 43 of the last 44 years. Maketewah Country Club, in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been a local site in 40 of the last 41 years. Riverton (Wyo.) Country Club has hosted local qualifying since 1998, while Collindale Golf Course, in Fort Collins, Colo., has been a host site since 2003. Ironwood Country Club, in Palm Desert, Calif., has held a local qualifier in 18 of the last 19 years.

The Country Club of Detroit, in Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., will serve as a U.S. Open local qualifying site for the third time since 2012. Arnold Palmer won the 1954 U.S. Amateur at the club, defeating Robert Sweeny, 1 up, in the final. It was the first of three USGA championships for Palmer, including the 1960 U.S. Open. The club also hosted the 1915 U.S. Amateur, won by Robert A. Gardner.

Several local exemptions for the U.S. Open were amended prior to the 2014 championship. The top 500 point leaders and ties from the Official World Golf Ranking™ (as of March 8) will be exempt from local qualifying. Any player in the OWGR’s top 500 (as of April 24) who has filed an entry prior to the deadline of 5 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 26, will also earn a local exemption. In the past, only the top 150 point leaders were exempt. Additionally, any player who has had multiple finishes in the top 400 of the year-ending OWGR in the past five calendar years (2012-2016) is exempt from local qualifying.

Ken Venturi (1964) and Orville Moody (1969) are the only players to win the U.S. Open after qualifying through both local and sectional play. Last year, 27 players advanced through local and sectional qualifying to the 156-player U.S. Open Championship field at Oakmont. Of those 27, five players made the 36-hole cut, including Brandon Harkins, who started his journey at The Club at Ruby Hill, in Pleasanton, Calif., which will host a local qualifier for the ninth consecutive year.

Several U.S. Open champions have advanced to the championship through both local and sectional qualifying at some point in their careers, including Lucas Glover, David Graham, Lou Graham, Hale Irwin, Tony Jacklin, Lee Janzen, Tom Kite, Johnny Miller, Corey Pavin, Curtis Strange, Lee Trevino and Fuzzy Zoeller.

To be eligible, a player must have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 1.4, or be a professional.

There are 16 local qualifying sites in the state of Florida, the most of any state. Fourteen local qualifiers are scheduled in California, while Texas will host seven local qualifiers.

Online player registration for the 2017 U.S. Open will begin in the first week of March (https://champs.usga.org/index.html).