US Open, now not ‘open’ anymore

nNEWYORK/NEWDELHI: The US Open might feel more like a closed shop this year. The pandemic, which has already postponed the US Open at Winged Foot in New York from June to September, has forced the USGA to do away with qualifying for the first time since 1924. Open qualifying is the hallmark of golf’s second-oldest championship. The USGA often points out that typically half of the 156-man field has to go through either 36-hole qualifying or 18-hole and 36-hole qualifying.

It even invested in a marketing campaign that was rolled out in February titled, “From Many, One,” to illustrate that more than 9,000 people apply to play in the US Open, eventually yielding to one winner. The USGA did not announce Monday how other players would become exempt.

Among those who have yet to qualify is Phil Mickelson, a runner-up six times in the only major he hasn’t won. Mickelson said in February he would not ask the USGA for an exemption, and that if he didn’t qualify or become exempt, he wouldn’t play. Winged Foot is where Mickelson made double bogey on the final hole in 2006 to lose by one. The field presumably will be smaller because of the later date, though the USGA did not mention the field size.

“This was a difficult decision, as qualifying is a cornerstone of USGA championships,” said John Bodenhamer, senior managing director of championships.

India’s top golfers, though disappointed that they would miss a chance to qualify for the US Open, were at least happy that the tournament was taking place. Twotime European Tour winner Shubhankar Sharma said, “Playing a US Open qualifier was definitely on the schedule, having done so the past few years. I wasn’t anticipating such a move but can’t do much. Given the extraordinary circumstances, it is great that at least the tournament is happening.”

Three-time Asian Tour winner and Asian Games gold medallist, Shiv Kapur, said, “I was (planning), and it’s a shame that it has been scrapped. The tradition of the US Open has been centred around stories of anyone in the world having a chance to contend. Michael Campbell (New Zealand) was the most recent winner (in 2005) to come through qualifying. It takes away a lot from the championship and having qualified a couple of times, I’m a bit disappointed. But if it’s between having the tournament and scrapping it altogether, the right decision has been made.”