Riviera to Host U.S. Amateur

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Amateur golf will return to Southern California when  Riviera Country Club and Bel-Air Country Club host the oldest golf competition in the country, the 117th U.S. Amateur, Aug. 14-20.

The field of 312 players will contend for the title won by some of the sport’s greatest players such as Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods for the first time in Los Angeles since 1976, when Bel-Air Country Club hosted the event.

Among the 65 exempt players will be 2017 U.S. Open low amateur Scottie Scheffler of Dallas (who also won the 2013 U.S. Junior Amateur); Maverick McNealy, of Portola Valley, who just finished a decorated career at Stanford and played last week’s British Open at Royal Birkdale after making the cut at the John Deere Classic the week before; and nearly everyone in the top 50 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of June 21.

Fans are encouraged to walk the fairways with the players and watch the action from an “inside the ropes” perspective.

On Aug. 14-15, each player tees off for 18 holes of stroke play (one round on each of the two qualifying courses), after which the field is cut to the low 64 scorers. Six rounds of match play begin Aug. 16, ending with a 36-hole final Sunday, Aug. 20.

Here is the schedule:

Aug. 14: First round, stroke play at Riviera/Bel-Air.

Aug. 15: Second round, stroke play at Riviera/Bel-Air.

Aug. 16: First round, match play at Riviera.

Aug. 17: Second and third rounds, match play at Riviera.

Aug. 18: Quarterfinal round, match play at Riviera.

Aug. 19: Semifinals, match play at Riviera.

Aug. 20: Championship match (36 holes) at Riviera.

The USGA is returning to Riviera for its third championship, the first being the 1948 U.S. Open (won by Ben Hogan) and the second being the 1998 U.S. Senior Open (won by Hale Irwin). In addition to the 1976 U.S. Amateur, Bel-Air hosted the 2004 U.S. Senior Amateur.

Tickets are available online at www.2017usamateur.com. Prices are $20 per day or $75 for a weekly pass.

Military personnel and students receive free admission with a valid ID.