AUGUSTA, Ga. – The USGA, Masters Tournament and the PGA of America officially launched the 2018 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship by announcing the local qualifying schedule for the program’s fifth year. The schedule includes dates and locations for participants to play in local qualifiers across the country with the opportunity to advance and earn an invitation to next year’s National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club. The qualifying schedule is available here on the event’s website. Online registration will also be available at www.drivechipandputt.com, starting Wednesday, January 25, 2017.
The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship aims to help younger generations begin their lifelong connection with golf by providing a fun, interactive platform for participants of all skill levels. This free youth golf development initiative welcomes boys and girls ages 7-15 to participate in separate divisions in four age categories. Local qualifying will take place throughout all 50 states during the months of May, June, July and August. Top performers at the local level will advance through subregional and regional qualifiers at some of the country’s best championship venues in July/August and September/October, respectively. The top 80 performers – 40 boys and 40 girls – will earn an invitation to the National Finals at Augusta National on Sunday, April 1, the eve of the 2018 Masters.
Expanding this year to 268 total sites, local qualifying will begin Saturday, May 6 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The breakdown and schedule of the 2018 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship qualifying is as follows:
Local (May/June/July/August): 268 host sites throughout all 50 states
3 juniors advance in each age/gender category from every venue
Subregional (July/August): 53 host sites throughout 33 states
2 juniors advance in each age/gender category from every venue
Regional (September/October): 10 host sites in 10 regions
1 junior advances in each age/gender category from every venue
National Finals (April 1, 2018): 80 total participants at Augusta National Golf Club
The regional qualifying events in September and October are set to take place at 10 championship host sites on the following dates:
September 3, 2017 Pinehurst Resort (Site of the 2014 U.S. Open and 2014 U.S. Women’s Open Championships)
September 9, 2017 The Olympic Club (Site of the 2012 U.S. Open and 2021 U.S. Women’s Open Championships)
September 16, 2017 TPC Sawgrass (Site of THE PLAYERS Championship)
September 16, 2017 Muirfield Village Golf Club (Site of the Memorial Tournament and 2013 Presidents Cup)
September 16, 2017 Southern Hills Country Club (Site of the 2007 PGA Championship and the 2001 U.S. Open Championship)
September 17, 2017 The Club at Carlton Woods (Site of the 2014 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship)
September 24, 2017 The Honors Course (Site of the 2016 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship)
September 30, 2017 Interlachen Country Club (Site of the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open Championship)
September 30, 2017 Torrey Pines (Site of the 2008 and 2021 U.S. Open Championships)
October 1, 2017 Winged Foot Golf Club (Site of the 2006 and 2020 U.S. Open Championships)
For a full list of qualifying venues at the local and subregional level, or for more information about the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship, including official rules, registration, and ticket information, please visit www.DriveChipandPutt.com.
About the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship
A joint initiative founded in 2013 by the Masters Tournament, USGA and the PGA of America, the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship is a free nationwide junior golf development competition aimed at growing the game by focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf. By tapping the creative and competitive spirit of girls and boys ages 7-15, the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship provides aspiring junior golfers an opportunity to play with their peers in qualifiers around the country. Participants who advance through local, subregional and regional qualifying in each age/gender category earn a place in the National Finals, which is conducted at Augusta National Golf Club the Sunday before the Masters Tournament and is broadcast live by Golf Channel. For more information about the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship, please visit: www.DriveChipandPutt.com.
About the USGA
The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches, attracting players and fans from more than 160 countries. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, equipment standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s reach is global with a working jurisdiction in the United States, its territories and Mexico, serving more than 25 million golfers and actively engaging 150 golf associations.
The USGA is one of the world’s foremost authorities on research, development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history and invests in the development of the game through the delivery of its services and its ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries. For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.
About the Masters Tournament
The Masters Tournament Foundation, inspired by the enduring philosophies of Masters Tournament founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, is committed to promoting golf’s domestic and international development through financial investment and active participation in initiatives aimed at preserving the traditions of the game and sharing its many virtues.
The Masters Tournament – since its very beginning – strives to provide added exposure to the game of golf and inspire interest in the sport worldwide. For more information about the Masters, visit www.masters.com.
About the PGA of America
Since its founding in 1916, the PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and grow interest and participation in the game of golf. The PGA of America delivers world-class championships while building the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility for everyone, everywhere. Celebrating its Centennial, the PGA represents the very best in golf. For more about the PGA of America, visit pga.org.
