An Open letter from the USGA to its members:

"In the past two days, you may have seen some news reports regarding the 2014 U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open.
I wanted our USGA Members to be the first to know that it’s now official: Today we are announcing the unique pairing of the 2014 U.S. Open and 2014 U.S. Women’s Open, with the two national championships to be played in consecutive weeks on the No. 2 course at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.
This is the first time in history that the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open will be contested on the same course in back-to-back weeks. The 2014 U.S. Open will be conducted June 12-15, followed by the U.S. Women’s Open, June 19-22.
This unprecedented U.S. Open “double-header,” staged at one of the game’s most storied golf courses, promises to be two weeks of championship golf unlike anything we’ve seen. And that’s a big part of why we’re doing this: We hope to stimulate interest and exposure for the U.S. Women’s Open, while adding a compelling element to the U.S. Open.
Two physical characteristics of Pinehurst No. 2 make it ideal for hosting these two championships in consecutive weeks: the course’s sand base, which minimizes the damage that comes from play, and the lack of rough around the greens.

The concept is novel, but I have great confidence in the ability of our operations team, the people at Pinehurst and the whole golf community to make both championships an unquestionable success. Pinehurst No. 2 has previously hosted nine USGA national championships, including the 2008 U.S. Amateur; the U.S. Open in 1999 and 2005; the 1994 U.S. Senior Open; the 1989 U.S. Women’s Amateur; and the 1962 U.S. Amateur. The 2014 U.S. Women’s Open will be the first conducted on this Donald Ross masterpiece in the sandhills of North Carolina.
The USGA is particularly indebted to the Pinehurst Resort, and especially its owner Bob Dedman, the Village of Pinehurst and the State of North Carolina for their wholehearted support of our plan for the 2014 U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open.
For two weeks in 2014, golf fans the world over will witness the best male and female golfers competing on the same stage for our most treasured national titles. I’m sure you will join me in anticipation of what will surely be two unforgettable weeks of championship golf. In the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy this week’s U.S. Open Championship at Bethpage Black.

Thank you for your support of the USGA."

Sincerely,

David B. Fay
Executive Director
United States Golf Association

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