Qualifying is back, at least domestically, for the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open at Olympic Club. As good as the invitation-only field turned out for the 75th edition in Houston, the dreamers and up-and-comers and veterans trying to fight their way back will once again have the chance to play their way in across 22 different sites between April 26 and May 13, the USGA has announced.
The 76th U.S. Women’s Open will be held June 3-6 in San Francisco. Only two players have won the USWO after advancing through qualifying: Hilary Lunke (2003) and Birdie Kim (2005).
Will 2021 be the year a third name gets added to the list?
“Last year was a difficult one in many respects and the decision to cancel qualifying did not come easily,” said John Bodenhamer, senior managing director, Championships in a release. “We are thankful to be able to safely bring back qualifying and the openness that embodies all our championships in 2021.”
The USGA introduced international qualifying sites for the Women’s Open in 2014, with contests typically held in England, Japan, China and South Korea. The USGA will make a decision in the coming weeks regarding the feasibility of hosting those qualifiers in the midst of the ongoing pandemic.
The Olympic Club’s Lake Course has previously hosted five U.S. Opens (1955, 1966, 1987, 1998 and 2012) three U.S. Amateurs (1958, 1981,2007), the 2004 U.S. Junior Amateur and the inaugural U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship in 2015.
Women’s Open qualifiers are contested over 36 holes and open to female professionals and amateurs with a handicap index not exceeding 2.4 Online entry applications open on Feb. 17 and continue through April 14.
2021 U.S. Women’s Open Qualifying Sites
Monday, April 26 (4)
Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon (Champions Course), Beaumont, California
Half Moon Bay (California) Golf Links (Old Course)
Oceanside Country Club, Ormond Beach, Florida
OGA Golf Course, Woodburn, Oregon
Tuesday, April 27 (1)
Belle Haven Country Club, Alexandria, Virginia
Wednesday, April 28 (1)
Old Hickory Golf Club, St. Louis
Thursday, April 29 (1)
Kishwaukee Country Club, Dekalb, Illinois
Monday, May 3 (5)
Brentwood Country Club, Los Angeles
Marin Country Club, Novato, California
Bradenton (Florida) Country Club
Druid Hills Golf Club, Atlanta
Somerset Country Club, Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Tuesday, May 4 (3)
Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, Southern Pines, North Carolina
Shannopin Country Club, Pittsburgh
The Clubs at Houston Oaks, Hockley, Texas
Wednesday, May 5 (1)
Dedham (Massachusetts) Country & Polo Club
Monday, May 10 (4)
The Ranch Country Club, Westminster, Colorado
Oahu Country Club, Honolulu
Spring Lake Golf Club, Spring Lake, New Jersey
Oakmont Country Club, Corinth, Texas
Tuesday, May 11 (1)
Banyan Cay Resort & Golf Club, West Palm Beach, Florida
Thursday, May 13 (1)
Superstition Mountain Golf Club, Gold Canyon, Arizona
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