What Is the Format of the U.S. Junior Amateur? Charlie Woods’ Biggest Upcoming Challenge Explored

In nearly a month, the U.S. Junior Amateur will begin to crown its 76th champion. This time the player’s field will have known faces like Miles Russell, who made history on the Korn Ferry Tour; Charlie Woods, who recently qualified through open qualifying and will be playing his first USGA event; last year’s runner-up Joshua Bai, and many others.

Since last year, the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur has reduced the field size from 312 to 264 in a bid to increase competition among the juniors and provide a spectacular week for the spectators. When will the 76th U.S. Junior Amateur start, and where will it be held?

The venue and format for the 76th U.S. Junior Amateur

This year’s U.S. Junior Amateur will be held at the Donald Ross-designed Oak Hills Country Club at Bloomfield Hills in Michigan. Oak Hills CC has been a fixture on the USGA for decades now. It has been a venue for six U.S. Opens, and the U.S. Amateur played in 2016. Moreover, Oak Hills was also the course where Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were paired at the 2004 Ryder Cup.

Being a historical golf venue, the Oak Hills would give amateur players a run for their game. But when will the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur start? The event is scheduled to begin on July 22nd and conclude by the 27th. The first two days will be 18-hole stroke play at the North and South courses of Oak Hills. From the 264 players’ field, only the top 64 will make it to the match play part of the event; in case of ties, playoffs will be held to cut down the field to only 64.

On July 24th and 25th, rounds of 64, 32, and 16 will be played in a match-play format. Then, the quarterfinals and semifinals will be scheduled on Friday, July 26th. Following this, a 36-hole match between the last two standing will be played at the South Course of Oak Hills on July 27th and a winner will be crowned at the 18th green near the infamous clubhouse.

The 42 qualifying events for the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur will soon be concluded on June 24th and the 264 fields will be confirmed. The amateurs under 19 will have many things at stake if they win the U.S. Junior Amateur, which will be a huge boost for their illustrious career.

What the U.S. Junior Amateur winner receives

The USGA does not grant the U.S. Junior Amateur winner any paycheck, however, the winner does receive a shining gold medal for his exceptional gameplay. Additionally, the champion will get the custody of the U.S. Junior Amateur’s trophy for one year. The winner will also receive an exception into the 2025 U.S. Open played at Oakmont Country Club if he has remained an amateur.

Other than this, the champion of the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur will be exempted from playing all the future U.S. Junior Amateur without having to go through a qualifying event until he turns professional. And an exemption into all the USGA-sanctioned U.S. Amateur Championships held in 2024 and 2025.

Who will be this year’s U.S. Junior Amateur winner from the 264 players field, will it be three-time U.S. Junior Amateur winner’s son Charlie Woods? It remains to be seen.