U.S. Open sectional qualifying 2014: Tee times, course sites, notable names and more

The start of U.S. Open week is just seven days away, and to warm up for the season’s second major, 10 sites around the country will host sectional qualifiers in what’s known as “golf’s longest day.” The qualifying process for the 2014 U.S. Open started at the beginning of May, when a record 10,127 entrants signed up for local qualifying. Throughout the first 20 days of the month, at 111 different sites all over the country, that record number was whittled down to the 769 golfers who will tee it up at 10 U.S. sites on Monday. Of those 769 left in sectionals, only 57 will earn a spot in the field at Pinehurst (here’s a list of the 74 players, mostly touring stars, who are already exempt and won’t be grinding it out on Monday).

While that 10k number of original entrants seems large, you don’t just get to sign up and play. You have to have at least 1.4 USGA handicap index, so while some may be reverse sandbagging to get a shot, there aren’t any major chops in that original group. You also need about $150 to pay the entry fee, which is easier to come by than having a near-scratch handicap.

And still it’s almost impossible to get through to play with the big boys. Luke Kerr-Dineen of Golf Digest put together a list of some things that are easier or more probable than qualifying for the U.S. Open, which included becoming Pope, breaking out of prison, and being someone who showers less than once a week (go through the full list here). They’re incredibly long odds, but each year we still end up with some ridiculous story of a qualifier who somehow snuck through, or caught some amazing bounce late in the day at one of these sectionals.

As usual, the biggest sectional sites are near the PGA Tour stops from last week in Columbus, Ohio, and this week in Memphis. Columbus is traditionally the strongest regional, with some world class players who, for whatever reason, just don’t have an exemption yet. The 36 holes are split between two courses, Brookside Golf and Country Club and Scioto Country Club, where Jack Nicklaus grew up and learned to play. Last year, an accident that caused major traffic disrupted the schedule as Mike Weir had to bolt from one course to the other for a playoff before darkness. It’s usually the regional with the most wild qualifying stories, and also the more recognizable names.

Aside from the 10 U.S. sites for sectionals, there are two international sites, and qualifying was completed there last week. Six players from the Japan sectional at Nara International Golf Club got through, while 14 qualified at the English site, Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey. Garrick Porteous, who had an exemption from winning the British Amateur but forfeited his spot when he turned pro in April, missed qualifying by a stroke in England. Here are your international qualifiers:

And here are your 10 U.S. sites for the 36-hole march on Monday.

We’ll be around all day updating the results and interesting stories that emerge from across the country on golf’s longest day.