US Open to be played behind closed doors
The 9th hole of Winged Foot Golf Club West Course in Mamaroneck, N.Y. photographed on June 26-27, 2019 (Copyright USGA/Russell Kirk)
The 120th U.S. Open Championship will be played without spectators on-site due to ongoing health and safety concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Scheduled for Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York from September 14-20, the event joins next week’s PGA Championship in opting to play without fans.
“Following months of consultation and scenario planning with local and state health officials, we have jointly decided that hosting the U.S. Open without spectators will provide the best opportunity to conduct the championship safely for all involved,” said Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA.
“We will miss the excitement of the fans and what their presence brings to the championship. We look forward to welcoming them again to future U.S. Opens.
“We are thankful to all of the local and state officials as well as the members and staff at Winged Foot Golf Club who worked so hard to try to help us accomplish our goal of hosting fans this year.
“We appreciate all of their efforts and while we are disappointed, we know it was the right decision to make for the community and for the players.”
New York’s Governor, Andrew Cuomo said: “We have come a long way in the fight against COVID-19, and I am so proud of New Yorkers, who rose to the occasion and bent the curve. I am pleased to welcome the USGA for the U.S. Open Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club this September, and while the tournament will look different this year with no fans and enhanced safety protocols, this event is a welcome sight for sports fans across the country and will help restore a sense of normalcy as we build back better than before.”
The USGA announced on April 6 that the 120th U.S. Open, which was scheduled to be held June 18-21 on Winged Foot’s West Course, had been postponed to Sept. 17-20, and it announced in June that the championship would be conducted without traditional qualifying.
“This will not be a typical U.S. Open in several respects,” said John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s senior managing director of Championships. “Would it have been easier to simply cancel or even move the 2020 championship rather than play it in what has been the epicenter of the virus in our country? Possibly. But all of us at the USGA know how much the U.S. Open matters, and we weren’t willing to give up on playing it at Winged Foot Golf Club so easily. We are very proud to give our competitors and champions a platform to chase their dreams. Their perseverance motivates us, in a year when such tenacity means so much.”
Craig Annis, chief brand officer of the USGA, added: "While we know we can’t replicate the on-site experience, we will be working diligently to bring the championship to life for fans through our partnership with NBCUniversal and on our digital platforms.
We hope that crowning a U.S. Open champion in September can serve as an inspiration and a small respite from world events to the millions of people who will watch at home and follow on their mobile devices."
Tickets purchased directly through the USGA will be automatically refunded to the method of payment used to purchase the tickets. Additional information on U.S. Open ticket refunds can be found here.
All fans seeking a greater connection to the championship are encouraged to join the recently launched Victory Club, the first-ever fan club dedicated to the U.S. Open. Membership is free and fans can celebrate the U.S. Open all year long with virtual experiences, engaging content and exclusive offers. The Victory Club will offer more access to the championship than ever before. Click here to learn more about the Victory Club.
Fans will also be able to follow the championship by watching on NBC/Golf Channel, downloading the U.S. Open app, following @usopengolf on social media and downloading the USGA streaming app for connected devices.
