Gov. Josh Shapiro called the state of Pennsylvania the “golf capital of the United States” during a visit Friday to the Oakmont Country Club for the U.S. Open.
The Keystone State has hosted the most United States Golf Association championships compared to any other state — at 95 as of this June. California is next in line with 94.
“It is great to be back at Oakmont,” he said. “Let me just first say that the USGA not only knows how to put on an extraordinary tournament, they’ve got great taste in how they chose Oakmont for the 10th time.”
This U.S. Open also solidifies Oakmont’s first place spot as the club that’s hosted the most U.S. Opens, with 10 championships. Second place is New Jersey’s Baltusrol Golf Club, with 7 U.S. Opens.
“Golf is huge business here in Pennsylvania. It’s a great opportunity for recreation,” Shapiro said. “And I would say it’s also a great opportunity to find ways to bring people together in these hyper-polarized times. We’ve got to find ways to communicate and talk and work together, and that’s exactly what golf is able to do.”
The USGA projects the tournament will generate more than $200 million for Pittsburgh’s economy. However, experts told TribLive the economic impact will likely be more modest.
“Hospitality and tourism are huge for Pennsylvania, and golf is a critical part of that,” Shapiro said.
Around 50% of the state’s population can get to Pittsburgh “quickly and easily,” according to the governor, which makes Pennsylvania unique.
“Once you’re here for golf, that means you’re staying in our hotels. It means you’re going to our restaurants and our bars,” Shapiro said. “You become part of the yinzer culture, and hopefully, you come back.”
Oakmont being the site of this year’s U.S. Open will get people excited to come back to Pennsylvania next year for the NFL Draft, Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game and other high-profile events happening across the commonwealth soon, he said. Pittsburgh hosts the 2026 NFL Draft.
“We’ve got a lot of big exciting things happening in Pennsylvania and a reason to come back,” Shapiro said. “I think the world’s eyes are going to be on Pennsylvania in 2026, and Pittsburgh is going to be a huge piece of that as we celebrate USA 250.”
Any visitors to the Pittsburgh area this week be able to experience the local culture, he said.
“It also opens up people’s eyes to the beauty of Western Pennsylvania, the great culture of Western Pennsylvania — that sort of wonderful chip folks have on their shoulders being from Pennsylvania because we are, of course, the best,” Shapiro said. “I think sort of being able to take that culture and share it with others, it’s a big deal, and it’s really exciting.”
To the governor, Oakmont has set the standard for these types of events moving forward.
“The folks here at Oakmont are just extraordinary … when you see leaders here at Oakmont be able to work with the national organizations like USGA, that sets a template for us for so many other things even outside of golf,” he said. “Sports is big business here, and I think the way they do it here at Oakmont sets a high standard for everyone else.”
The layout of the Open is set up in a way to make it equitable for spectators, Shapiro said.
“With folks being able to walk around, be together, people from all different walks of life being able to experience championship golf at the highest level,” he said. “I know that was really purposeful for leadership here at Oakmont and of course for the USGA.”
Shapiro told the USGA and all Oakmont volunteers that they did “a heck of a job” getting the U.S. Open up and running this year.
“We’re excited for a terrific tournament.”