The United States Golf Association has released the local and final qualifying sites for the 126th U.S. Open Championship, set for June 18-21 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. Local qualifying will occur at 110 sites across 46 U.S. states, Canada, and Mexico from April 20 to May 18. Final qualifying follows from May 18 to June 8 at 13 international sites.
The USGA made the announcement on Monday, providing opportunities for professionals and amateurs with a Handicap Index not exceeding 0.4 to enter the tournament. Registration opens at 9 a.m. ET on February 18 at champs.usga.org, with a deadline of 5 p.m. ET on April 8.
Local qualifying consists of a single 18-hole round at various venues starting April 20. For example, sites on that date include Oro Valley Country Club in Arizona and Del Rio Country Club in Modesto, California, among eight others. The schedule continues through May 18, with the final local site at Palmer Golf Course in Alaska.
Final qualifying involves 36-hole events for those advancing from local rounds or locally exempt players. Sites begin May 18 at Dallas Athletic Club in Texas and Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey, England. Additional dates include May 25 at Hino Golf Club in Japan and June 8 at locations such as Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Georgia and Lambton Golf & Country Club in Toronto, Canada.
The process highlights the accessibility of the U.S. Open. Last year, the USGA received a record 10,202 entries for the 2025 event at Oakmont, surpassing the 2023 record of 10,187 at Los Angeles Country Club. At Oakmont, six final qualifiers placed in the top 25, including Carlos Ortiz in fourth and Chris Gotterup, now a four-time PGA Tour winner.
Historically, only Ken Venturi in 1964 and Orville Moody in 1969 won the U.S. Open after qualifying through both stages.
