Summer’s really not that far off
While it seems like summer may be a long way off, it’s really not.
In just about a month, local qualifying will begin with Butler Country Club (May 9) and Quicksilver Golf Course (May 16) providing the first steps for those hoping to play in the U.S. Open in June at Shinnecock Golf Club on the eastern-most part of Long Island.
A little later in May, New Castle Country Club will host a sectional qualifier for the U.S. Senior Open that will be held at The Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs in late June.
And then before you know it, the U.S. Open and the Senior Open will be upon us.
We’ll enjoy those, as well as the other USGA events that have been on the yearly schedule for decades. But there are a couple new events that will be very interesting and, even more importantly, will register highly in our memories.
The USGA will conduct a Celebration of Champions event, a four-hole public exhibition honoring the winners of all 2017 USGA championships. Amateurs and professionals will play in an alternate shot format playing the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th holes at Shinnecock Hills the day before the first round.
That event, which will be broadcast live on FS1, will included one of our own. Sean Knapp, who won the U.S. Senior Amateur last year, is in that select group and, knowing him, will be absolutely thrilled to compete that day.
Also coming on the championship schedule is the U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship, which will be played July 12-15 at the historic Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Ill.
Open to professionals and amateurs with a handicap index of not more than 7.4, who have reached their 50th birthday as of the first day of the event. Its rules will mirror those of the U.S. Open, walking-only, 72-hole stroke-play competition with a 36-hole cut to the top 50 players.
A Western Pennsylvania resident and one of the greatest women’s amateurs of all-time received an exemption into the field, but told me this week she hasn’t played competitive golf in a long time and won’t play in this event.
A pair of western Pennsylvanians, Katie Miller and Courtney Myhrum, will be in 2018 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship this coming weekend at the El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana, Calif.
Miller, of Jeannette, will compete with Lauren Greenlief, Ashburn, Va,. and Myhrum’s partner will be Lisa McGill, of Philadelphia.
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I can’t explain it, but I’ve never been able to get interested in the Valero Texas Open. It’s a very nice event, it’s the longest-running at the same location in the history of the PGA. It’s been in San Antonio for 96 years, although not at the same course all those years.
It has cool history. Arnold Palmer and Justin Leonard are the only two players to have won it three times.
It appears the players aren’t all that crazy about it, either. The biggest names on tour are not in San Antonio this week. Maybe it’s because it’s halfway through the season (the 25th of 48 FedEx Cup events. I don’t know.
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An interesting note on one of the most popular players on the PGA Tour.
Since 2010, Matt Kuchar has finished in the top 10 of events 77 times. He’s won seven titles on the PGA Tour, a total that includes no majors. If you ever wondered why he’s known on the PGA Tour as the walking ATM, here’s your answer: $42,958,216 earnings in his career.
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If you have an interesting story about your club or course or an individual who has done something special? Let me know. Send your story ideas to mike.dudurich@gmail.com.