American Classic Comes to Los Angeles Country for the First Time
The best golfers in the world have come together 122 times in search of glory at the U.S. Open, but everything will be different this year. For the first time in the storied history of American golf’s biggest prize, the stage will be the Los Angeles Country Club. Defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick will be there, as will Jon Rahm and Brooks Keopka, who respectively currently hold the Masters and PGA Championship trophies. Oddsmakers currently look to either Rahm or Scottie Scheffler to take home the title.
The main draw to the tournament starts on Thursday, June 15, 2023 and, weather permitting, the final round will be played on Sunday. 156 players will tee off on Thursday, but only 60 will make the cut to play the weekend rounds.
The Historic Los Angeles Country Club
The seeds of the L.A. Country Club were planted in 1897, when a group of Los Angeles residents formed the Los Angeles Golf Club. After a couple of early moves, the club moved to its current home in Beverly Hills in 1911. It now boasts 36 holes, as well as tennis courts. The club has hosted the United States Women’s Amateur Golf Championship (1930), the U.S. Junior Amateur Golf Championship (1954) and the 2017 Walker Cup. In the 1930s, the club also hosted the Los Angeles Open four times.
The USGA has longed to hold the U.S. Open at the L.A. Country Club, but previous requests were consistently rejected. The course is considered to be one of the best “parkland” style golf courses in the world, with precise landscaping, abundant grass and lots of trees. Because the grounds are well-manicured, the fairways are generally very smooth and promote more distance on drives. The course also features William Bell bunkers, known for their lacy edges, multiple bays and considerable contour.
According to Golf Digest, the 244 yard, par 3 11th hole is far and away the signature hole on the course, considered by many to be one of the top par 3 holes around the globe. The 385 yard, par 4 3rd hole may be the most challenging on the course, with an uphill pin and a William Bell bunker guarding the front of the green. Conversely, the 340 yard par 4 6th hole should produce a substantial number of birdies over the course of the tournament.
How Is the Field Determined for the U.S. Open?
It’s called the U.S. Open for a reason—anyone who qualifies can play in the tournament. The first step in the process is getting your official handicap down to 1.4 or less. Once you do that, you qualify to play in an 18-hole qualifying event. Based on how well you do there, you may be able to move on to a 36-hole final qualifying tournament. If you finish high enough in that tournament, you may make into the open draw.
In addition to those players who seek spots through qualifying tournaments, a number of professional golfers have earned exemptions, allowing them automatic entry into the U.S. Open. Among the players to whom exemptions will be granted are:
- Anyone who has won the U.S. Open in the last 10 years
- Anyone who finished in the top 10 at last year’s U.S. Open
- The current U.S. Senior Open Championship titleholder
- The winner of the most recent U.S. Amateur
- The winner of the most recent Masters
- The winner of the most recent PGA Championship
- Any player who qualified for the Tour Championship last year
