USGA to Honor Championship Winners Before the U.S. Open

The USGA has been trying for years to find a way to honor their national championship winners. Now, it seems like they have found the perfect way to celebrate.

The USGA announced on Wednesday that there will be a new event created on the Tuesday before the U.S. Open that will feature all 14 of their national champion winners. The Celebration of Champions as it will be called, will be a four-hole exhibition event that will be played at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southamption, New York.

Adding a twist to the event, the 2017 USGA National Champions won’t be playing by themselves but in two-team pairs. This will create a unique atmosphere because there is such a disparity in the age of players.

Conceivably, the winner of one of the senior championships could end up teaming up with the winner of the amateur championship.

Jordan Spieth of the United States walks alongside Thomas O’Toole,…

Jordan Spieth of the United States walks alongside Thomas O’Toole, Jr., President of the USGA, after Spieth won the 115th U.S. Open Championship at Chambers Bay on June 21, 2015 in University Place,… Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

Mike Davis was incredibly excited that his USGA was able to create this celebration. “It really is all about saying with all these champions what can we do more to celebrate them,” Davis said. “To win a USGA championship is to have reached the pinnacle, whether it’s junior golf, amateur golf, professional or seniors. … And we felt we weren’t quite doing enough to celebrate them. So this is a great chance to give them a place to honor their accomplishments.”

This won’t be the only honor that the champions will receive either. 8-time USGA national champion Jack Nicklaus will be there to preside over the event. Players will also be honored at special dinner the day after the exhibition. And, of course, the names of the winners will be placed in the Wall of Champions at the Arnold Palmer Museum as they have in previous years.

The event will be an alternate shot event on the course’s 10th-13th holes and will even be broadcast on Fox Sports One. So while you’re preparing to watch the U.S. Open, make sure to check out these champions as they open up the week’s ceremonies.

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