Cliff Hawkins

By Joel Beall
The USGA announced Monday 16 players have been added to the 2020 U.S. Open field.

The USGA’s flagship event, which will be comprised solely of exempt players due to the cancellation of local and sectional qualifying in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, bestowed exemptions to the top five point earners from the three-event Korn Ferry Tour Series. Those players are Brandon Wu, Stephan Jaeger, Curtis Luck, Greyson Sigg and Dan McCarthy.

Additionally, 11 invites went to players who were not otherwise exempt based on the Official World Golf Ranking. In this group are Kevin Streelman, Harris English, J.T. Poston, Joaquin Niemann, Thomas Pieters, Max Homa, Lanto Griffin, Mike Lorenzo-Vera, Matthias Schwab, Alex Noren and Matt Jones.

The USGA also announced two WDs from the field. Francesco Molinari has pulled out from the proceedings; the 2018 Open champ also withdrew from the PGA Championship and has not played since February’s WGC-Mexico Championship. Jung-Gon Hwang of South Korea will be unable to play due to a military service commitment, leaving the current field list at 139 players.

The remaining spots will be filled by the FedExCup final standings (top five players, not otherwise exempt) following this week’s Tour Championship.

The 120th U.S. Open begins on Sept. 17 at Winged Foot Golf Club West Course in Mamaroneck, N.Y. Gary Woodland is the defending champ.