Golf fans got some expected but good news today as Phil Mickelson has qualified for the U.S. Open. He only made it due to exemption changes that were forced by the Covid-19 pandemic. There will be no local and sectional qualifying this year, giving room for new spots.
The U.S. Open was originally going to be played in June but has been rescheduled for September 17th to 20th at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York.
Here’s a quote about this year’s U.S. Open qualifying changes from John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s senior managing director of championships (Source ESPN).
“It was uncharted territory for us. It’s something we’ve never done before, at least in modern history. Qualifying is such a huge part of what we do. It’s just ingrained in our DNA and a cornerstone of what we do. It’s the ultimate meritocracy. It doesn’t matter your background. If you get the ball in the hole, you’re in. So this wasn’t easy.”
Odds for The Masters have already been released at WPN Sportsbooks
The Masters golf tournament has also been rescheduled to this November and will take place at its normal famed location of the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.
The odds for this tournament have already been released at the Winning Poker Network Sportsbooks. Rory McIlroy is first at +725 and then there’s a tier of five players at around similar odds in John Rahm (+1215), Brooks Koepka (+1315), Tiger Woods (+1415), Justin Thomas (+1415) and Dustin Johnson (+1515).
Mickelson is +3651 as he look’s his fourth title all-time at the event. That places him well down the odds-list among all players, but at least he gets to take his shot at the crown thanks to the qualifying changes.
