Additions will go into effect for 2023 U.S. Open and 2023 U.S. Women’s Open
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (Feb. 9, 2023) – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that four exemption categories will be added for the U.S. Open Championship, beginning with the 2023 championship at The Los Angeles (Calif.) Country Club’s North Course, June 15-18. One additional exemption will be introduced beginning with the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open, to be contested July 6-9 at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links.
The four new exemptions for the U.S. Open, to be added in 2023, are as follows:
2023 Latin America Amateur Champion (must be an amateur) 2023 NCAA Division I men’s individual champion (must be an amateur) 2022 Korn Ferry Tour season points leader (using points earned on KFT Regular Season and points earned in KFT Tour Finals) The top 5 players in 2022-23 FedExCup standings as of May 22, 2023, not otherwise exempt
In addition, a new exemption category has been added for the U.S. Women’s Open:
The 2023 NCAA Division I women’s individual champion (must be an amateur)
In 2023, the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship will be held May 19-24 at Grayhawk Golf Club, in Scottsdale, Ariz. One week later, Grayhawk will also host the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship from May 26-31.
“The USGA is pleased to offer these exemptions for both the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open,” said USGA Chief Championships Officer John Bodenhamer. “These categories provide another avenue for ensuring the presence of those players who are playing their best leading into both national championships.”
Additionally, as part of a transitional plan for the return of final qualifying in Europe for the first time since 2019, U.S. Open exemptions (see full list below) will be awarded to the top two players from the final 2022 DP World Tour Rankings, who are not otherwise exempt, as of May 22, 2023, and the top player from the 2023 Race to Dubai rankings, who is not otherwise exempt, as of May 22, 2023. Also, the exemption for the DP World Tour U.S. Open Qualifying Series will be modified from last year and the top two players from the series, who are not otherwise exempt, will earn exemptions. The two players will be the top aggregate point earners from four DP World Tour events (Italian Open, Soudal Open, KLM Open and Porsche European Open) to be contested between May 4 and June 4.
The USGA previously announced that the cumulative points leader from the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour season, using combined points earned on the Korn Ferry Tour Regular Season Points List and points earned in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, and the 2023 Latin America Amateur champion (must be an amateur) would earn U.S. Open exemptions, beginning in 2023. Justin Suh and Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira won those categories, respectively.
Two-stage U.S. Open qualifying (local and final) will continue to be conducted at U.S. and international sites in April, May and June. U.S. Women’s Open qualifying will be held in one stage beginning May 9.
More information about the 2023 U.S. Open and the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open is available at usopen.com and uswomensopen.com, respectively.
List of 2023 U.S. Open exemption categories from local and final qualifying
F-1. Winners of the U.S. Open Championship the last 10 years (2013-22)
F-2. From the 2022 U.S. Open Championship, the 10 lowest scorers and anyone tying
for 10th place
F-3. Winner of the 2022 U.S. Senior Open Championship
F-4. Winner of the 2022 U.S. Amateur Championship
F-5. Winners of the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships, and the 2022 U.S. Amateur runner-up (must be an amateur)
F-6. Winners of the Masters Tournament (2019-2023)
F-7. Winners of the PGA Championship (2018-2023)
F-8. Winners of The Open Championship, conducted by The R&A (2018-2022)
F-9. Winners of The Players Championship (2021-2023)
F-10. Winner of the 2022 European Tour BMW PGA Championship
*F-11. Those players who qualified and were eligible for the season-ending 2022 Tour Championship
F-12. Multiple winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation for the FedExCup, from the conclusion of the 2022 U.S. Open (June 16-19) to the initiation of the 2023 U.S. Open
*F-13. The top five players in the 2022-23 FedExCup standings as of May 22, 2023, who are not otherwise exempt
*F-14. The points leader from the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour season using combined points earned on the Korn Ferry Tour Regular Season Points List and points earned in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals
**F-15. The top two players from the final 2022 DP World Tour Rankings who are not otherwise exempt as of May 22, 2023
**F-16. The top player on the 2023 Race to Dubai Rankings as of May 22, 2023, who is not otherwise exempt
**F-17. The top two finishers from the 2023 DP World Tour U.S. Open Qualifying Series, who are not otherwise exempt
F-18. Winner of the 2022 Amateur Championship, conducted by The R&A (must be an amateur)
F-19. Winner of the 2022 Mark H. McCormack Medal (Men’s World Amateur Golf
Ranking) (must be an amateur)
F-20. Winner of the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship (must be an amateur)
F-21. Winner of the 2023 Latin America Amateur Championship (must be an amateur)
F-22. From the current Official World Golf Ranking, the top 60 point leaders and ties as of May 22, 2023
F-23. From the current Official World Golf Ranking, the top 60 point leaders and ties as of June 12, 2023 (if not previously exempt)
F-24. Special exemptions selected by the USGA
*Note 1: For Exemptions F-11, F-13 and F-14, players must be considered eligible per PGA Tour regulations at the time the exemption is determined to qualify for the exemption.
**Note 2: For Exemptions F-15, F-16 and F-17, players must be in DP World Tour Membership at the time the exemption is determined to qualify for the exemption.
About the USGA The USGA is a nonprofit organization that celebrates, serves and advances the game of golf. Founded in 1894, we conduct many of golf’s premier professional and amateur championships, including the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open. With The R&A, we govern the sport via a global set of playing, equipment, handicapping and amateur status rules. The USGA campus in Liberty Corner, New Jersey, is home to the Association’s Research and Test Center, where science and innovation are fueling a healthy and sustainable game for the future. The campus is also home to the USGA Golf Museum, where we honor the game by curating the world’s most comprehensive archive of golf artifacts. To learn more, visit usga.org.
