It will mark a record 20th time that the Ardmore, Pa. club has staged a USGA Championship, and its seventh Amateur, also a record. The event will coincide with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia.
The U.S. Golf Association (USGA) announced on February 21 that Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. will host the 2026 U.S. Amateur, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. It will mark a record 20thtime that Merion will stage a USGA Championship, and it will be the club’s seventh U.S. Amateur, also a record.
Merion last hosted the Amateur in 2005, when Edoardo Molinari was the winner. The club was the site of the 2013 U.S. Open won by Justin Rose, and next will host the Curtis Cup matches in 2022.
Merion President Brad Bradbeer told the Inquirer that the suburban Philadelphia club was excited to host the Amateur again, particularly in the year when the 250thanniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence will be celebrated.
“[That will be] an important year for the city [of Philadelphia],” Bradbeer said. “I think that we really thought for Merion, [which is] kind of the USGA’s lead club in Philadelphia, to have a championship here during 2026 made a lot of sense. We’ve been working on it for a little while. It’s great, very exciting.
“It’s really important, particularly with our focus on the importance of amateur golf,” Bradbeer added. “I think it’s exactly the right event for us to host. [The USGA] was excited about the notion of bringing their top amateur championship in that year to Merion, where there has been so much history.”
The most historic U.S. Amateur took place at Merion in 1930, when Bobby Jones won the tournament as part of completing the Grand Slam in that year (instead of the Masters and PGA Championship, the Amateur was part of the Slam then along with the U.S. Open, British Open and British Amateur).
Bradbeer told the Inquirer that Merion has interest in observing another significant anniversary, the centennial of Jones’ Slam, and remains in contact with the USGA about hosting the 2030 U.S. Open.
“We have regular conversations with the USGA about things that seem like they’re good for the USGA, good for Merion, and most importantly, good for the game,” Bradbeer said. “Certainly that’s something that’s been considered [and] has been brought forward a lot.
“I think there is a broad spectrum to those aware of that as a potential [event] and we’ll see how that goes,” Bradbeer added. “But we don’t have anything to report now.”
In addition to 2013, Merion also hosted the U.S. Open in 1934, 1950, 1971 and 1981.
The club just completed an extensive renovation and restoration of its East Course.
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