USGA announces changes to US Senior Open qualifying model, starting in 2025

USGA announces changes to US Senior Open qualifying model, starting in 2025

The United States Golf Association (USGA) announced today that the U.S. Senior Open Championship will transition to a two-stage qualifying model and adopt modified exemption categories, beginning in 2025.

The U.S. Senior Open, to be played next year at the Broadmoor’s East Course in Colorado Springs, Colorado, will feature a qualifying framework similar to the U.S. Open with 32 local sites and 12 final sites. In 2024, there was a qualifying stage with 33 sites in 24 U.S. states. The USGA accepted 3,019 entries, the third-highest total in championship history.

Additionally, the US Senior Open qualification model will feature a limited overall reduction in full exemptions as well as appropriate alignment of exemptions for major championships. Local exemption criteria will recognize achievement at the senior amateur and professional levels.

“It is critical to preserve the open nature of the U.S. Senior Open while ensuring that top players have ample opportunity to earn a spot in the field and that qualifying can be conducted at the highest level,” said Brent Paladino, USGA senior director of championship administration. “Our structure has evolved to ensure the long-term sustainability of qualifying without overburdening Allied Golf Associations (AGAs) and host clubs.”

Significant adjustments to the full exemption include a 1-year exemption for PGA Tour Champions winners (based on timing of victory) instead of 2- or 3-year exemptions, while Senior PGA Champions, Senior Players and The Tradition will each receive a 5-year exemption.

Establishment of local exemptions will include, but are not limited to, past PGA Tour champion winners, Charles Schwab Cup leaderboard finishers, senior major championship finishers, state senior championship winners open and state senior amateurs, as well as a world. Senior category filtered by age Amateur Golf Ranking®/WAGR®.

The two-stage model is expected to maintain the openness of the championship, benefit AGMs and the grassroots level, improve the chances of qualifying, improve the overall qualifying experience and strengthen the championship field.