The field for the 41st U.S. Senior Open Championship, to be contested June 25-28 at historic Newport (R.I.) Country Club, is starting to take shape. Competitors can earn their place in the field in one of two ways: by becoming exempt through a variety of categories or via 18-hole qualifying that will take place this spring. The number of available qualifying spots will be determined after the close of entries on May 6. To get a sneak peek at where and when those qualifiers will be conducted, click here.
Entries for the 2020 championship are expected to open the first week of March.
Defending champion Steve Stricker, of Madison, Wis., is among 15 past champions who are currently exempt into the field of 156. Others are exempt via a variety of categories established by the USGA.
Two amateurs are currently in the field: reigning U.S. Senior Amateur champion Bob Royak and 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur runner-up Roger Newsom.
The following are the 2020 U.S. Senior Open exemption categories, and the players who currently meet each criterion. These are subject to change and all players must still file an entry, unless they become exempt after the close of entries. In that case, the USGA will file a blank entry on behalf of that competitor. (Bold: first time a player is listed)
Winners of the U.S. Senior Open Championship the last 10 years:
Olin Browne
Roger Chapman
Bernhard Langer
Jeff Maggert
Colin Montgomerie
Kenny Perry
Gene Sauers
Steve Stricker
David Toms
Winners of the U.S. Senior Open Championship since 2010 who have not reached their 66th birthday on or before June 28, 2020:
Olin Browne
Roger Chapman
Bernhard Langer
Jeff Maggert
Colin Montgomerie
Kenny Perry
Gene Sauers
Steve Stricker
David Toms
Winners of the U.S. Senior Open Championship from 1980-2009:
Brad Bryant
Allen Doyle
Fred Funk
Hale Irwin
Peter Jacobsen
Eduardo Romero
From the 2019 U..S. Senior Open Championship, the lowest scorer and anyone tying for 15th place:
Stephen Ames
Woody Austin
Paul Broadhurst
Chris DiMarco
Bob Estes
Doug Garwood
Retief Goosen
Paul Goydos
Miguel Angel Jimenez
Jerry Kelly
Tom Lehman
Scott McCarron
Fran Quinn
Steve Stricker
David Toms
Kirk Triplett
From the 2019 U.S. Senior Open Championship, the amateur returning the lowest 72-hole score (must be an amateur):
N/A
Winners of the U.S. Open Championship in the last 10 years:
N/A
From the 2020 U.S. Open Championship, any amateur returning a 72-hole score. (Must be an amateur):
N/A
Any player in his first 10 years of eligibility who has won the U.S. Open Championship:
Angel Cabrera
Michael Campbell
Ernie Els
Jim Furyk
Retief Goosen
Lee Janzen
Winners of the U.S. Amateur Championship in the last 10 years (2010-2019) and the runner-up from 2019:
N/A
Winner of the 2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship (Must be an amateur):
N/A
From the 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship, the winner and the runner-up (Must be an amateur):
Roger Newsom
Bob Royak (champion)
Any player in his first year of eligibility who has won a U.S. Amateur, Masters Tournament, Open Championship conducted by The R&A, Amateur Championship conducted by The R&A or PGA of America Championship:
Angel Cabrera
Ernie Els
Phil Mickelson
Mike Weir
Playing members of the 2017 and 2019 USA Walker Cup Teams and 2016 and 2018 USA World Amateur Teams:
N/A
Winners of the Senior PGA Championship in the last 10 years (2010-19):
Paul Broadhurst
Roger Chapman
Kohki Idoki
Bernhard Langer
Rocco Mediate
Colin Montgomerie
Ken Tanigawa
Tom Watson
Winners of the last five (2015-19) Senior Open Championships conducted by The R&A in collaboration with the Staysure Tour:
Paul Broadhurst
Marco Dawson
Miguel Angel Jimenez
Bernhard Langer
Those players who qualified for the 2019 PGA Tour Champions season-ending championship (Charles Schwab Cup):
Stephen Ames
Billy Andrade
Woody Austin
Doug Barron
Paul Broadhurst
Tom Byrum
Fred Couples
Marco Dawson
Ken Duke
Joe Durant
Bob Estes
Steve Flesch
Retief Goosen
Paul Goydos
Jay Haas
Lee Janzen
Miguel Angel Jimenez
Brandt Jobe
Kent Jones
Jerry Kelly
Bernhard Langer
Tom Lehman
Jeff Maggert
Scott McCarron
David McKenzie
Rocco Mediate
Colin Montgomerie
Scott Parel
Tim Petrovic
Wes Short Jr.
Steve Stricker
Kevin Sutherland
Ken Tanigawa
Tommy Tolles
David Toms
Kirk Triplett
From the 2020 official PGA Tour Champions money list, the top 20 money leaders through the close of entries on May 6, 2020. Players must select a qualifying site at the tme of entry. (Must have filed an entry by May 6, 2020):
Updated on May 6, 2020
From the PGA Tour Champions all-time money list, the top 40 money leaders through the close of entries on May 6, 2020. Players must select a qualifying site at the time of entry. (Must have filed an entry by May 6, 2020):
Updated on May 6, 2020
Any player whose 50th birthday falls between the close of entries and the first scheduled round of Championship that, at the close of entries (May 6, 2020), would have otherwise been listed among the top 40 on the PGA Tour Champions all-time money list. Players must select a qualifying site at the time of entry. (Must have filed an entry by May 6, 2020):
N/A
Winners of the PGA Tour Champions co-sponsored events, excluding team events, whose victories are considered official, in the last two calendar years (2018, 2019 and current) and during the current calendar year to the initiation of the 2020 U.S. Senior Open Championship:
Scott Parel
Jerry Kelly
Mark Calcavecchia
Joe Durant
Steve Stricker
Vijay Singh
Steve Flesch
Bernhard Langer
Miguel Angel Jimenez
Paul Broadhurst
Tom Lehman
Scott McCarron
David Toms
Kenny Perry
Bart Bryant
Ken Tanigawa
Woody Austin
Mark O'Meara
Kirk Triplett
Kevin Sutherland
Retief Goosen
Doug Barron
Brandt Jobe
Wes Short Jr.
Rocco Mediate
Colin Montgomerie
Jeff Maggert
Brett Quigley
Ernie Els
Top 10 players from the 2019 Staysure Tour Order of Merit:
Peter Baker
Markus Brier
Jose Coceres
Clark Dennis
Peter Fowler
James Kingston
Barry Lane
Phillip Price
Jean-Francois Remesy
David Shacklady
From the 2019 official Japan Senior Tour money list, the top 4 money winners:
Masahiro Kuramoto
Prayad Marksaeng
Thaworn Wiratchant
Suk Joug Yul
Winners of the Masters Tournament the last 10 years (2011-2020):
N/A
Winners of the PGA of America Championship in the last 10 years (Blank entry filed for 2020 champion if age-eligible):
N/A
Winners of The Open Championship conducted by The R&A in the last 10 years (2010-19):
Darren Clarke
Ernie Els
Phil Mickelson
Playing members of the five most current United States and European Ryder Cup Teams, and United States and World Presidents' Cup Teams:
Angel Cabrera
KJ Choi
Ernie Els
Jim Furyk
Retief Goosen
Thongchai Jaidee
Miguel Angel Jimenez
Paul Lawrie
Phil Mickelson
Steve Stricker
David Toms
Winners of PGA Tour co-sponsored events, whose victories are considered official, in the last five calendar years (2015-19) and during the current calendar year to the initiation of the 2020 U.S. Senior Open Championship:
Jim Furyk
Davis Love III
Phil Mickelson
Rod Pampling