Torrey Pines will host 2021 US Open, U.S. Golf Association confirms

Torrey Pines, one of the most scenic courses in America, will host the U.S. Open in 2021, the U.S. Golf Association announced on Tuesday. 

 

In the first U.S. Open that went prime time, Tiger Woods hobbled his way around Torrey Pines and made two eagles in six holes to take the 54-hole lead, made an all-or-nothing birdie putt on the 72nd hole to force a playoff, and won his 14th major on a shattered left leg in a playoff that went 19 holes. 

 

"When we look back on 2008, I think one of the things we all talked about is, `How can we possibly top that?'" USGA Executive Director Mike Davis said Tuesday. "From my perspective, that was one of the great U.S. Opens ever." 

 

He'll find out seven years from now. 

 

On Monday, the San Diego city council approved a proposal that brings the national championship back to the public golf course that was built along the bluffs of the Pacific Ocean. Being on the West Coast, it tends to get the most viewers. 

 

That 2008 U.S. Open was the first that truly was shown in prime time. When the next U.S. Open is held at Torrey Pines, it will be the sixth time in 14 years that it will be played on the West Coast. 

 

COME ON BACK: San Diego city council approves return of U.S. Open to Torrey Pines

 

Davis said it's not ideal for viewers in Europe and other parts of the world. Graeme McDowell won at Pebble Beach in 2010 when the U.S. Open ended at about 2:00 a.m. in his native Northern Ireland. 

 

"It depends on your point of view on whether that's good or not, but certainly from a domestic standpoint, we just get a bigger audience when we go west," he said. 

 

Torrey Pines hosts a PGA Tour event every year, which Woods has won seven times. Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan are the only players to win a regular PGA Tour event and a major championship on the same course in the same year. Woods has done it twice, at Torrey Pines in 2008 and Pebble Beach in 2000. 

 

"I was excited to hear that the U.S. Open was returning to Torrey Pines," Woods said in a statement. "I think it's great, when the USGA can, to play the U.S. Open at a public course. The last time it was there, it was an amazing event. 

 

"I think it's a great decision returning to Torrey," he said. "It's a very special place to me." 

 

The city council voted unanimously on a proposal that, among other things, requires the USGA to pay $2.5 million for a site fee (including parking areas) and allows the city to get 20 percent of hospitality sales.