USGA To Extend Open Invitations To Mid-Am, Junior Winners

You may recall that post-U.S. Amateur(s) it was suggested the USGA revisit the insistence on a winner retaining amateur status to enjoy their U.S. Open exemption.

While the newly announced perk by USGA President Diana Murphy is little different and we want the Opens to remain "open," news of exemptions for Mid-Am and Junior winners seems like a positive development from this week's U.S. Mid-Amateur.

From Ryan Herrington's report for Golf World.

During Thursday’s evening reception for the 264 players competing in this year’s U.S. Mid-Am, which begins on Saturday at Capital City Club in Atlanta, USGA president Diana Murphy announced that the winner will receive an exemption into next year’s U.S. Open.

Similarly, the winner of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur next month at Champions Golf Club in Houston will get into next year’s U.S. Women’s Open. Additionally, the winners of the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior this past summer, Noah Goodwin and Erica Shepherd, will get exemptions into their respective Opens as well.

While some might see this as chipping away at qualifying spots for the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open--because it is--the move seems like a smart way to validate the importance of other national championships. Given that these winners get to the Sectional stage and many have qualified for the Opens anyway, it will give the events and amateur golf just a bit more of a boost.

Comments

[FC]

I think it's stupid, contributing to an already watered-down field.

[PG]

In '19, PGA moves up before NCAAs; Two years later, Walker Cup on Mother's Day

[PG]

Spider Miller was concerned about slow play without caddies in college golf, so he convinced selection committee not to pick Nicklaus award winner Sam Burns

[Roger]

FC- In reality only about 50-75 players have a legit chance to win, so not sure putting a couple of extra amateurs in and taking away a spot for a non-exempt player is watering down anything.

[Led]

Mid-Am, yes. Jr no. On girls side, winner who came to 18th all square, then does not exactly show sportsmanship of Bobby Jones receives an exemption. Lucky for sure. Putting that one act aside, youths should earn the spot.

[PABoy]

The most out matched are the Women Mid-Am.p

[KLG]

Erica Shepherd did nothing wrong at the end of her semifinal match with Elizabeth Moon. The putt is not good until the opponent says so. Period. Ask Alison Lee. Moon didn't wait long enough for the concession. She had a brain cramp and it cost her. A lot. Had a referee not been there...who knows? But Shepherd didn't do anything wrong or unsportsmanlike.

[Led]

Let one's conscience be her guide. Can't imagine winning in that way. Regardless, Jrs should earn the qualifying spot in the Opens. Who knows how they might play in '18?

[kenoneputt]

"Let one's conscience be her guide. Can't imagine winning in that way. Regardless, Jrs should earn the qualifying spot in the Opens."

Have you actually watched the video of the event.

Shepherd wasn't looking at Moon when she hit the putt, and almost before the ball stopped rolling, Moon reached out and raked it back. Shepherd had ZERO time to make a concession, and even tried to give Moon the putt after the fact.

K

[PG]

http://www.golfwrx.com/468732/how-difficult-is-it-really-to-play-ncaa-division-i-mens-golf/

[Rgw]

Why would you give full exemptions to players with absolutely no chance of winning? Terrible moves.

[Andrew]

I like the mid-am exemption and a bit indifferent to the junior exemption. I do like the fact that they have to stay amateur to get the exemption, same as the big A amateur.

[FC]

"Why would you give full exemptions to players with absolutely no chance of winning? Terrible moves." - Rgw

Odd logic has never deterred Roger or the USGA before. No need for change.

[Tremendous Slouch]

To cover all possibilities for sportsmanship, Shepherd could have said she conceded the putt.

She didn't so anything wrong, but she could have also done that.

[Led]

Exactly, "Slouch". Yes, I, too, have watched the incident many times. Curious to know if here caddy, a golf professional, prompted her before she stated the putt had not been conceded. Sportsmanship matters in golf, as much as the rules.
The more the number who earn their way in the Opens, the better. Exemptions are getting out of hand.

[kenoneputt]

"To cover all possibilities for sportsmanship, Shepherd could have said she conceded the putt.

She didn't so anything wrong, but she could have also done that."

Seriously?

She's supposed to lie and say she conceded when there's video evidence that she didn't.

Since when does good sportsmanship require that players take responsibility for their opponent's dumb actions?

K

[Tremendous Slouch]

It was an option. Ken. Absolutely and without a doubt she could have done that. Nobody said she was "supposed" to. It's fine that she didn't, but if she "really didn't want to win that way", she could have taken a breath before blurting out that she didn't concede it, and then walked to the next tee.

[Pete Blaisdell]

I don't mean to take away from the accomplishment and due honor of winning the USGA Mid-Am and Junior Championships but it does not warrant a free ride to the National Open. I agree with the exemption from the Local qualifier but not the Sectional. Far Hills makes a double bogey on this decision.

[PG]

http://www.morningread.com/features/fd0784c7-eebe-4c1f-8ba5-c5649c9e9ecb College coaches look at the SPWAR much more than they do the WAGR and JGS to assess players. Mark.