2024 U. S. Women’s Open: Are Amateurs Allowed to Play in the Major Event?

The 2024 US Women’s Open is underway for female golfers, from May 30 to June 2. With just four days left for teeing off of the prestigious tournament. For a purse amount of $12,000,000, which is the highest on the LPGA Tour, many golfers will be trying to knock a hole. World No.1 Nelly Korda will be arriving as the favorite to claim her third major championship, given her out-of-the-world performance this year with six titles already in her bag so far. Defending champ Allisen Corpuz, and other golfers such as Rose Zhang, and Lexi Thompson will try to bring the title home too at Lancaster Country Club. With the fans excited to see the seasoned pros in the tournament, will there be amateurs too in the field? 

The answer is yes! Surprisingly, this year saw the second-highest entries in the competition, counted#1897 for the 79th running of the event. John Bodenhamer, USGA Chief Championships Officer, acknowledged this increase in participation by stating,  “The number of entries represents the worldwide interest in competing in this championship, the pinnacle of women’s golf. This classic course will test the game’s best players.” 

Unlike the men’s US Open, there is no local qualifying round for the female players. Amateurs must have an up-to-date USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 2.4, lowered in 2014 from 4.4 in 2013 to play in qualifiers. Players may obtain a place by being exempt or by competing successfully in qualifying. The amateurs take part in a 36-hole stroke play qualifier open and with a handicap of 2.4 and below are also invited. The number of qualifying spots is based on the size of the field. The qualification period, this year, started from April 15 to May 20, across various sites in the USA, Germany, Canada, and Japan.

In addition to qualifying through the qualifying events, amateur golfers also receive exemptions to play in The Women’s Open based on their performance in prestigious amateur tournaments or their world amateur golf ranking. Moreover, if an amateur golfer has previously performed well in the Open or other significant tournaments, they may receive an invitation to compete in the championship. 

Breakdown of the amateur golfers who have met the criteria from the exemption categories 

Megan Schofill – Winner of the 2023 US Women’s Amateur

Latanna Stone – Runner-up of the 2023 US Women’s Amateur

Lottie Wood – Winner of the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur

Kimberly Dinh – Winner of the 2023 US Girls’ Junior Championship

Kiara Romero – Winner of the 2023 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship

Chiara Horder – Winner of the 2023 Women’s Amateur Championship

Ingrid Lindblad – Winner of the 2023 Mark H. McCormack Medal

Adela Cernousek – Winner of the 2024 NCAA Division I Individual Golf Championship

A full breakdown of the amateurs who qualified for the US Women’s Open through the 36-hole qualifiers. Out of 62 players who made pass-on via the qualification route, sixteen of them are amateurs. Below is the list of female amateur golfers and the venue from where they clinched their places to play at Lancaster Country Club. 

Are you excited to see who will at the 2024 Women’s US Open? Let us know your picks in the comment section below!