U.S. Open to return to Pinehurst in 2024

The U.S. Open keeps coming back to Pinehurst, N.C.

The U.S. Golf Association officially announced Wednesday that the 2024 U.S. Open would be played on the No. 2 course at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club, marking the fourth time in 25 years that Pinehurst will host the major championship.

The announcement came barely a year after Pinehurst hosted both the 2014 U.S. Open and the U.S. Women's Open in back-to-back weeks, an unprecedented coupling. While the USGA does not have an official rotation of U.S. Open courses, Pinehurst No. 2 now has been the choice for the 1999, 2005, 2014 and 2024 Opens.

"It's a day to celebrate," Pinehurst resort president Tom Pashley said Wednesday. "It's great honor to earn the respect and trust of the U.S. Golf Association. Their willingness to return in 2024 again validates No. 2 as a championship test.

"It's very important to continue to host a U.S. Open. It's something that continues to make Pinehurst relevant to each new generation."

Pashley said there had been no discussions with the USGA about hosting the 2024 U.S. Women's Open in another Open doubleheader.

In the 1999 Open, the late Payne Stewart won with a par putt on the final hole, edging Phil Mickelson and striking a victory pose for the ages.

Pinehurst quickly was awarded the 2005 U.S. Open, won by Michael Campbell of New Zealand in a last-day duel with Tiger Woods. Martin Kaymer of Germany was a runaway winner in the U.S. Open last year, and Michelle Wie scored her breakthrough victory in a major championship by winning the U.S. Women's Open seven days later.

"The thrill of hosting an Open never goes away," Pashley said. "Each Open carves out its own identity, its own memories. It should be that way in 2024."

The USGA on Wednesday announced the sites for three U.S. Opens: The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. (2022, Los Angeles Country Club (2023) and Pinehurst. The 2024 Open will be played June 13-16.

“Pinehurst has elevated itself to one of the great and historic places in golf in this country,” USGA president Thomas O'Toole said in a statement. “Some say it’s our St. Andrews — it’s certainly something special, and that’s why we’re going back there for the 2024 U.S. Open.”

Having the 2014 Opens in back-to-back weeks was an economic boon. There was $140 million in visitor spending, with an economic impact of more than $238 million over a 26-county region.

Pinehurst No. 2, the Donald Ross masterpiece, underwent an extensive renovation before the 2014 Opens. The golf design team of Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore narrowed fairways and added more natural areas and native grasses to give No. 2 a more rustic look.