nearly impossible, but many are willing to try for a shot at golfing immortality. Young kids envision making a five-foot putt to win the U.S. Open while they are learning the game at their local track. The U.S. Open and the Open Championship are the two most democratic golf tournaments in the world. Anyone with a .4 handicap, or less, can enter a qualifier. Who knows where the next U.S, Open Champion will come from? That is the beauty of the event. Along with the commitment to bring the U.S. Open to Pinehurst on multiple occasions, it is also the new home of the United States Golf Association (USGA). Pinehurst has hosted the championship on three previous occasions and it will return to Pinehurst again in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047. Staging a U.S. Open is a massive project for the USGA. This year’s tourney requires 109 local qualifying sessions spread over 44 states and Canada. The survivors and players exempt from locals will go through the 36-hole final eliminations that begin May 20 in England, Japan and one U.S. site. Nine other U.S. sites will host the final stage of qualifying on June 3, “the longest day in golf,” and another will be held in Canada that day. Only two golfers have ever made it through qualifying and win the U.S. Open. Ken Venturi survived extremely hot conditions to win the 1964 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club and Orville Moody won the 1969 U.S. Open at Champions Club in Houston. Magic does happen golf, who knows maybe a local qualifier will defy the odds and hoist the U.S. Open trophy on Father’s Day.
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