And then there were four.
The United States Golf Association announced its fourth U.S. Open anchor site on Thursday, adding historic Merion Golf Club to an impressive list that already includes Pinehurst, Oakmont and Pebble Beach.
Merion, located in Ardmore, Pa., outside of Philadelphia, has already hosted five U.S. Opens on its East Course, most recently in 2013, when the championship was won by Justin Rose. Like the other anchor sites, it has a rich history — it was the site of Bobby Jones completing the grand slam in 1930, as well as Ben Hogan’s famous 1-iron (a plaque marks the spot) at the 1950 U.S. Open.
It’s also been the home of several U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women’s Amateur events — Jack Whaley won the 2026 U.S. Amateur played there two months ago — as well as two Curtis Cups and a Walker Cup.
“Merion has long been one of the defining venues in championship golf,” said John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s chief championships officer, in a press release. “Its history, architecture and ability to consistently identify the game’s greatest champions make it a place where every player dreams of winning. The anchor site designation is about more than just semantics. It represents a shared commitment between the USGA and Merion to plan further in advance, make strategic investments and continually elevate the championship experience. Merion will continue to play a central role in the future of the U.S. Open, and we are excited to build on its remarkable legacy for generations to come.”
Merion’s next U.S. Open will be 2030, and two more are scheduled for 2040 and 2050. There are also U.S. Women’s Opens coming in 2034 and 2046.
The USGA named Pineshurt as its first U.S. Open anchor site in 2020, a significant step toward creating its version of a national championship “rota” by visiting iconic venues more frequently. Oakmont was named the second anchor site in 2021, and Pebble Beach became the third in 2022. Now Merion makes it four.
The next U.S. Open is in Pebble Beach in 2027, with Winged Foot scheduled for 2028 and Pinehurst in 2029 before Merion’s spot in 2030. The USGA currently has its U.S. Open venues set through 2042, with a handful more scheduled up until 2051.
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