The 2020 U.S. Non-Open

[jvincent]

@15th Club I was addressing your "permanent" question.
Removing qualifying for one year isn't a big deal. Sure it sucks for those guys who just making it all the way through qualifying is their main goal but that's life. It's the USGA's event so they can call it whatever they want.
Hell, maybe they could hold a lottery to award 10 spots to people with qualifying indexes. That way it's still "open".

[Smada962]

That's my feeling. I wouldn't be in favor of this kind of change permanently but it's just for one year, and given the circumstances I think this is the best they can do, and certainly way better than no tournament at all.

[widow-maker]

It's not a big deal to do this for one year under the circumstances. But, it's not an Open Championship with the way they are doing it. It's a closed Championship and they are picking the exempt players. The field will be strong and it certainly can still be considered a Major Championship. It's just not an Open Championship by definition.

[MUNIGRIT]

To create revenue. I dont have a problem with people throwing away their money if they want. It's okay this year to skip the qualifiers with all that has gone on. It seems like they could do some sort of small qualifiers though that the Strickers and other good regular pga tour players could win.

[Body_Visions]

Does this mean Phil is out? He wasn’t already qualified, right?

 

And I still think it should be called the Hale America National Open.

[bscinstnct]

US Nopen

 

At least no bababooeys ; )

[dalehead]

So if Tiger wins it won’t count towards his major total?

[grm24]

The US Open as we currently know it has not always been "open" as its name suggests. Hat tip to Island Boy for this post in another WRX thread.

 

[QuigleyDU]

Part of the esteem to me for the US open is the qualification system. I have a few friends that have gone through sectionals and played in US opens. Did they come close to winning? No, but it was a wonderful experience they said. Also, we shouldn't forget that there have been winners to come through qualification. Steve Jones comes to mind. He was the first since Jerry Pate in 76.

[dalehead]

It’s a shame that a few “never heard of him, never will hear of him agains” won’t be in the US Open. Sucks for them. But compared to the trauma the rest of the country is experiencing it doesn’t seem like such a big deal. Hopefully they get to try again next year.

Yeah I get it. The US Open isn’t really open this year. I got over it. You should too.

[Body_Visions]

Nope. They wouldn’t count Hogan’s.

[QuigleyDU]

 

True, considering that the british open is completely cancelled, and the Olympics, I think that it being held at all is great.

 

So I guess, even though it is limited. That it is happening at all does mean it is Open as opposed to closed for 2020.

[15th Club]

Well said.

Not exactly on point, but second only to Sandy Tatum’s immortal comment about (coincidentally Winged Foot) “identifying” the world’s best players, there was Weiskopf on the US Open. I’ll try to quote him from memory...

”Every golfer says he wants to play in the US Open, but what they mean when they say that is that they’d like to be good enough to play in the US Open. Because, trust me, it is no fun to play in the US Open.”

On a more serious note, my bottom line in this is that all of this has the feel of being forced. Compromising the essential integrity of the event just to have something to put on tv, or to serve the business/other interests of the PGA Tour.

[15th Club]

By the way, kudos to the several golf writers who are doing some very interesting interviews with non-American tour players, generally highlighting their discomfort and dissatisfactions with significant parts of professional golf’s reopening.

Thank you GolfWRX for linking them.

[QuigleyDU]

I think some compromises to tradition are ok. I think having the event even a lesser version for one year, is good. It is good for golf, for the USGA, sponsors, the country, etc. I am glad that it is happening. I don't think the winner needs any kind of asterisk or anything like that. It may be forced, I don't disagree. But, I am glad they are forcing it honestly. Even if it is the Thursday night football version.

[ATLgopher]

no one is forcing them to participate. It’s their choice.

[dalehead]

If it happens you’re going to have trouble convincing a lot of guys here that it’s not his 16th major. I don’t think TV and the press will agree with you either.

[Golfjack]

Open Championships used to mean something when the best players were amateurs. Now, what's the point really? Other than tradition, nobody is good enough to win if they have to qualify. It's a fun exercise to see if one can get lucky to get in the tournament, but then they would be considered very fortunate to even make the cut. Nobody has won as a qualifier since 1969. I think we're safe and probably fairer to give better pro's a shot at winning instead.

[GwrxMod]

Post here: https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/1829537/us-open-will-not-be-open-this-year-no-politics-or-covid-19-posts

Stop the bickering and no COVID-19 off topic responses.