It’s no secret that playing Oakmont Country Club is on the bucket list for many golfers.
The best in the world will descend upon the historic course June 12-15 when the venue hosts the 125th U.S. Open, and a record number of golfers are seeking a spot in the field.
The USGA announced Tuesday that 10,202 entries have been accepted, surpassing the mark of 10,187 for the 2023 championship at Los Angeles Country Club.
This year’s entries include golfers from all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and 80 foreign countries.
“The U.S. Open’s two-stage qualifying framework provides thousands of professional and amateur golfers worldwide an opportunity to earn a place in the field,” USGA chief championships officer John Bodenhamer said in a news release. “Based on the record number of entries, there continues to be tremendous interest in competing in our national championship.”
Defending U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and all players with an Official World Golf Ranking in the top 50 receive automatic entries.
Eight other U.S. Open champions also are fully exempt: Wyndham Clark (2023), Matt Fitzpatrick (2022), Dustin Johnson (2016), Brooks Koepka (2017, 2018), Rory McIlroy (2011), Jon Rahm (2021), Jordan Spieth (2015) and Gary Woodland (2019).
McIlroy won the Masters on Sunday to complete the Grand Slam of all four major championships.
Local 18-hole qualifiers will be held at 110 sites in 43 states, as well as Canada and Mexico starting Wednesday and running through May 19.
Sites for local qualifiers include Country Club of York in York (May 1), The Pines Country Club in Morgantown, W.Va. (May 6), Jericho National Golf Club in New Hope (May 8), Huntsville Golf Club in Dallas, Pa. (May 12) and Quicksilver Golf Club in Midway (May 13).
Final qualifying will include 36 holes at 10 U.S. and international sites June 2.
To be eligible, a player must have a handicap not exceeding 0.4, or be a professional.
Entrants range in age from a 13-year old amateur from Texas to Mac O’Grady, a 73-year-old pro from Palm Springs, Calif. who has two PGA Tour victories.
Other exemptions will be added to include the top 60 points leaders, the PGA Championship winner and any multiple winners of PGA Tour events, among others.
A current list of exempt players can be found here.
This will be the 10th time the championship will be contested at Oakmont Country Club. For tickets, visit usopen.com.