US Amateur winners will be able to compete in US Open as Amateur or pro from next year

The United States Golf Association has announced that it will allow US Amateur and US Women’s Amateur champions to play in the 2020 US Open as amateurs or professionals.

Up until the announcement, golfers would have to win the US Amateur to form a path to the US Open the following summer. But they would also have to remain an amateur to be able to play in the major. 

The new rule has effectively removed the need to mull over deciding to turn pro. But it comes a year too late for Viktor Hovland, who won the 2018 US Amateur at Pebble Beach but decided against going pro so he could compete in the US Open.

Fortunately, it will be much easier for others going forward.

“We believe this change gives our champions an important option as they choose whether and when to embark on their professional careers,” John Bodenhamer, the USGA Senior Managing Director, said via Golf Digest. “Given the significant purses awarded at the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open, we realize how important it is for players to make the most appropriate decision for his or her career, and the positive impact it could have at the outset of their professional careers.”

The 2020 US Open is still far away as it comes back next June but fans are free to take advantage of early odds where betting is concerned. As things stand, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, and Tiger Woods are seen as the favorites.

Bet365 is offering 8/1 on Koepka while William Hill has McIlroy at 10/1. Johnson is at 12/1 with Betvictor and 888sport has odds of 14/1 on offer for Woods following his return to prominence with a 2019 Masters win.

Gary Woodlands, who won this year’s open is considered to be a long shot at 50/1 with Betfair but he’s probably worth a go as he’s just won the thing.

It’s typically difficult for Canadian residents to place bets or open accounts on betting sites with their credit cards as many banks have placed restrictions on cards that see transaction attempts knocked back.

Visa and Mastercard have always been the popular choice as far as credit card usage goes. However, newer policies have made it so that one can’t even complete an account signup as a bank’s approval is required most of the time.

Fortunately, there are ways to go about your online betting business. Online wallets, for example, provide a great avenue for dealing with bookmakers. There are quite a few to choose from but Instadebit, Moneybookers, Entropay, PaySafeCard, and EcoCard are some of the best. These mostly work through users funding them through a Canadian chequing or savings account so they can act as virtual credit cards with the bookies of your choice. Visit  Canadian Sports Betting to learn more about online wallets and the benefits they offer.

As it relates to the USPGA development, it’s very good news for up and comers. While Hovland will have to play in the Korn Ferry Tour Final Series to try to reach the US Open, other champions won’t have to go through alternate routes. The 21-year-old played impressively at the tournament before turning pro but he wouldn’t have had enough points to earn a PGA Tour card for this year anyway.