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USGA Championships

USGA amateur championships.

10 USGA-conducted national championships covering every adult amateur tier: open, mid-am, senior, women's, four-ball, and adaptive. Winning one is the most prestigious line on any amateur résumé and often comes with Masters / U.S. Open / Open Championship invitations.

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U.S. Amateur Championship

U.S. Am

The premier amateur championship in U.S. golf. 312-player field; stroke-play qualifying narrows to match-play bracket of 64. Winner receives invitations to the next year's Masters, U.S. Open, and Open Championship. Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Jones, and Phil Mickelson all won here.

National·Since 1895

Winner gets Masters + U.S. Open + Open Championship invitations.

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U.S. Women's Amateur Championship

U.S. Women's Am

The women's equivalent of the U.S. Amateur: 156-player field, match play after qualifying. Winner receives invitations to the U.S. Women's Open, AIG Women's Open, and Augusta National Women's Amateur.

National·Since 1895

Winner gets U.S. Women's Open + AIG Women's Open + ANWA invitations.

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U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship

U.S. Mid-Am

Age-25-and-over national amateur championship. Match-play format after stroke qualifying. The Mid-Am winner receives a Masters invitation, making it the only USGA amateur event outside the U.S. Amateur with that distinction.

National·Since 1981

Winner gets a Masters invitation, rare honor for adult amateurs.

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U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship

U.S. Women's Mid-Am

Age-25-and-over women's national amateur. Open to women who are 25+ years old as of the championship start date.

National·Since 1987
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U.S. Senior Amateur Championship

U.S. Senior Am

Age-55-and-over national amateur championship. Match-play format. The most prestigious senior amateur event in the country.

National·Since 1955
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U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Championship

U.S. Senior Women's Am

Age-50-and-over women's national amateur championship.

National·Since 1962
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U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship

U.S. Am Four-Ball

Two-player better-ball amateur championship. 128-team field, match play. Sectional qualifying open to amateurs of all ages, one of the few USGA events without an age floor.

National·Since 2015
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U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Championship

U.S. Women's Am Four-Ball

Women's two-player better-ball amateur championship. Sister event to the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball.

National·Since 2015
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U.S. Girls' Junior Championship

U.S. Girls' Junior

Under-19 national amateur championship for girls. Match-play format. Pipeline into elite collegiate programs and the USGA's championship ladder.

National·Since 1949
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U.S. Adaptive Open Championship

U.S. Adaptive Open

Open amateur + pro championship for golfers with physical, visual, or intellectual impairment. Newest USGA championship, first held in 2022 at Pinehurst No. 6.

National·Since 2022

Newest USGA national championship.

How to qualify for a USGA amateur championship

Every USGA amateur championship enters the same way in principle: file your entry, meet the handicap and eligibility window, and either get in on exemption or advance through local and sectional qualifying. The details differ enough by championship that guessing gets people disqualified late in the process. Our USGA amateur qualifying guide breaks down entry, exemptions, and the handicap index required for each of the championships above.

The USGA also runs the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open, the only major championships with true open qualifying: any golfer with a sufficient handicap can enter local qualifying for a shot at the field. That process is separate from the amateur championships above; see our U.S. Open qualifying guide for how local and final qualifying work.

Whichever championship you're entering, confirm your amateur status is intact before you file. Our Rules of Amateur Status guide covers what still costs you eligibility and how reinstatement works.

Frequently asked questions

How do I qualify for a USGA amateur championship?

Most USGA amateur championships run on two tracks: direct entry for anyone inside the handicap cap and age/eligibility window, and 18- or 36-hole local qualifying at sites around the country for a spot in sectional qualifying, which then decides the field. A smaller group of players skip straight to the championship through exemptions (prior USGA champions, top world ranking positions, and similar categories set by each championship). The exact cap and site list are published on usga.org each spring; our USGA qualifying guide breaks down the process championship by championship.

What handicap index do I need to enter?

It varies by championship and changes periodically, so confirm the current number on usga.org before you enter. The U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women's Amateur run the tightest caps of the group; the U.S. Senior Amateur, U.S. Mid-Amateur, and U.S. Four-Ball run somewhat looser ones. None of them are open to any handicap; all require an established USGA Handicap Index through a recognized golf association.

Which USGA championships have age or amateur-status requirements beyond a handicap cap?

Several. The U.S. Mid-Amateur requires players to be 25 or older. The U.S. Senior Amateur requires 55 or older, and the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur 50 or older. All of them require the player to hold amateur status under the USGA/R&A Rules of Amateur Status at the time of entry, not just at the time of play.