The US Open has built a reputation for being notoriously tough and played across testing layouts. That trend is set to continue – and one venue in particular could favour Tiger Woods.
The 2020 US Open was the 120th edition of the event and was held between September 17-20 over the West Course at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. It was originally scheduled for June 18-21, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and was played without spectators.
It was the first US Open held in September in over 100 years and was won by Bryson DeChambeau, who claimed his first major title with a six-under-par 274.
From 2021, the event will return to its traditional June slot and many of the country’s most venerated venues are due to host, with two of the next four US Opens taking place in California.
Torrey Pines (South Course), June 17-20, 2021
The South Course at Torrey Pines in San Diego, California will host in 2021. The course was redesigned by Rees Jones in 2001 and is now 7,698 yards in length from the back tees with par at 72. It has hosted one previous US Open, only the second municipal course to ever hold the event, and it proved a memorable one. In 2008, Tiger Woods edged out Rocco Mediate in a 19-hole playoff while playing with a stress fracture and torn ACL for his 14th career major. The course is very demanding with incredible Pacific views, rivalling those found at Pebble Beach. It hosts the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour each year, won four times by Tiger and three times by Phil Mickelson. So it could be the stage for another Tiger major or Phil finally completing his career grand slam, to go with his six US Open runner-up finishes.
The Country Club, Brookline, June 16-19, 2022
The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, will host its fourth US Open in 2022. The three previous Opens at Brookline went to a playoff. In 1913, 20-year-old amateur Francis Ouimet caused a huge upset by toppling British legends Harry Vardon and Ted Ray. In 1963, Julius Boros edged out Arnold Palmer, and in 1988 Curtis Strange pipped Sir Nick Faldo to the title. The course is another tough one and we rate it as the world’s 40th best. It also hosted the memorable 1999 Ryder Cup which America won over Europe by a narrow 14.5-13.5 points.
The Los Angeles Country Club, June 15-18, 2023
In 2023, the US Open will be played at the North Course at the Los Angeles Country Club, California. The course underwent an extensive renovation by Gil Hanse in 2010 who returned it to its former glory, with thrilling shots played between valleys, ridges and hills and views of downtown LA. We rate it as the 39th best course in the world. It will be the first time the US Open has been played here, but it did host the 2017 Walker Cup won by the United States over Great Britain and Ireland. It’s challenging but fair, and set in Beverly Hills it will provide a fitting stage for golf’s biggest stars to battle it out.
Pinehurst No. 2, June 13-16, 2024
The No. 2 course at Pinehurst in North Carolina will host in 2024, the fourth time the US Open will be played here. Pinehurst was recently announced as an ‘anchor’ host site by the USGA with US Opens in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047 also to be played here. It’s one of the most celebrated golf courses in the world, and we rate it as the world’s 27th best. It’s mostly known for its testing, crowned undulating greens that can make or break a player’s championship. Payne Stewart made one such memorable 18-foot par putt on the 18th in 1999 to edge out perennial runner-up Phil Mickelson. Michael Campbell also won here 2005, while Martin Kaymer achieved the feat in 2014.
