Pinehurst to host two US Opens in 2014

Agence France-Presse

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The back-to-back staging of the major tournaments on the Number 2 course at the North Carolina venue will mark the first time two U.S. championships have been staged on the same course in consecutive weekends.

"This double-header, staged at one of the sport's most storied golf courses, promises to provide a promotion of women's championship golf unlike anything we've ever seen," U.S. Golf Association (USGA) executive director David Fay said.

The U.S. Open will be staged on the Donald Ross-designed course on June 12-15, 2014, with the U.S. Women's Open set to follow June 19-22. "I'm thrilled," three-time U.S. Women's Open champion Annika Sorenstam said. "Playing the same course the week after the men's Open will help attract new fans to the Women's Open."

The announcement came on the opening practice day for this week's U.S. Open at Bethpage Black.

Unique oppurtinity

"This is a unique and wonderful opportunity to showcase the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open," U.S. Golf Association president Jim Vernon said. "Conducting these championships in back-to-back weeks allows the Association to provide a new and exciting experience for the players and fans alike."

Hosting the 2014 U.S. Women's Open will make Pinehurst the only course to have staged the USGA's five greatest events, the U.S. men's and women's Opens and Amateurs and U.S. Senior Open.

"The ability to provide women golfers with the opportunity to compete in a championship setting on the same course, under similar conditions, as their male counterparts is certainly unique," said USGA women's committee chairman Barbara Douglas.

"The staging of these championships is a significant statement for the sport of golf."

New Zealand's Danny Lee won last year's U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst, the same course where New Zealander Michael Campbell won the 2005 U.S. Open and the late Payne Stewart captured the 1999 U.S. Open.

Next year's U.S. Open will be staged at Pebble Beach with the 2011 edition at Congressional Country Club near Washington, the 2012 U.S. Open at Olympic Club in San Francisco and the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.The 2015 U.S. Open will be staged at Chambers Bay in Tacoma, Washington.