Sports

Philadelphia's Main Line is the Next Center of the World of Golf

Merion Golf Club will host the U.S. Open from June 13 to 16.

When the Masters Tournament concluded Sunday, golf fans worldwide turned their attention to the next major championship: the U.S. Open, coming in less than two months.

This year, the world's elite golfers—including No. 1-ranked Tiger Woods and newly crowned Masters champion Adam Scott—will spend their Father's Day weekend here in the Philadelphia area.

Merion Golf Club is hosting the U.S. Open. Here's what you need to know:

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Where is this happening?

Merion is situated along Ardmore Avenue roughly where Lower Merion's Ardmore section meets Haverford Township, about a mile southwest of Lancaster Avenue.

When is this happening?

The four rounds of play are scheduled for Thursday, June 13, through Sunday, June 16, but road closures will start as early as Monday during practice rounds and the run-up to the tournament.

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Who'll be playing?

The full field won't be known until qualifying tournaments end June 3, according to the USGA. However, among the many entry exemptions are the winners of the past 10 U.S. Opens and the past five Masters Tournaments, Open Championships and PGA Championships, as well as the top-60 ranked players in the world.

Road closures?

Haverford Township's website has a list and maps of road closures and other details about the tournament's likely effect on residents and visitors, as well as an online form for questions.

Some roads immediately surrounding the golf course will be closed around the clock during U.S. Open week—including sections of both Haverford Road and Ardmore Avenue—while others will be open overnight and others will be unaffected.

Does Merion Golf Club have any experience at this?

In fact, this will be the fifth U.S. Open at the course, according to the U.S. Golf Association. Previous Opens were played there in 1934, 1950, 1971 and 1981, as was the 2005 U.S. Amateur Championship.

Can I attend?

The USGA has sold out of most tickets, but you can still buy tickets onto the grounds for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, when players will be practicing.

On StubHub.com, tickets for a single day of tournament play are going for $300 or more.

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Are you looking forward to the U.S. Open? Do you think it will be an overall positive or negative experience for the Main Line and the Philadelphia area? Please tell us in the comments section below.


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