STEVENS POINT (Wisconsin) — The last tee-shot has been fired, the final putt has been made, and the Francis D. Ouimet Trophy has been lifted.
Bernhard Langer’s record-breaking victory at the 43rd U.S. Senior Open Championship, held on Sunday in SentryWorld, was a fitting conclusion to a week which was by all measures a resounding triumph.
Although the United States Golf Association does not release official attendance figures, spectators came out in force on weekends, particularly when Wisconsin favorites Steve Stricker, Jerry Kelly, and others were in contention.
The course, which was unfamiliar to most players before the first practice round on Tuesday, received rave reviews for being a fair but challenging test. Only eight players finished below par.
“SentryWorld! You guys had a great secret in Wisconsin. We just told the world about it. “This is a real American gem,” USGA Chief Executive Officer Mike Whan stated during the trophy’s presentation.
What’s next at SentryWorld as the course prepares to reopen after a historic Wisconsin week?
Pete McPartland, CEO of Sentry, said: “I honestly don’t know.” “We have no specific golfing ambitions, but we want to make the most of every opportunity that comes our way. We’ll go anywhere reasonable that this leads us. I’m sure that golf will continue to play a major role in Sentry. We will continue to try to double down on whatever we can. But I have no idea what those things are.”
Hank Thompson said that the U.S. Senior Open was a success because the golf course and Sentry had met all the requirements in the two years leading up to the event and passed every test on championship week.
Thompson stated that “they’re in the hospitality industry, but to be honest with you, I think it’s part the DNA of Wisconsin.” “At each turn, they wanted to do the right thing for this championship,” Thompson said.
Bernhard Langer poses in front of the Francis D. Ouimet memorial trophy after winning the U.S. Senior Open Championship 2023 at SentryWorld, Stevens Point. (Photo: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images).
Was the USGA, who brought the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links in 1986 and the Girls Junior Championship to SentryWorld in 2019, convinced enough to bring back the Senior Open? The USGA, which brought the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links 1986 and the Girls Junior Championship to SentryWorld in 2019, saw enough to bring the Senior Open back?
There are many open dates in the calendar if you answer yes.
The Broadmoor Colorado Springs will host the 2025 event, and then Newport Country Club, Rhode Island, in 2024. The sites for 2026-2029 are still to be announced. Spyglass Hill, in Pebble Beach in California, will host the 2030 event and Saucon Valley Country club in Bethlehem in Pennsylvania has been announced for 2032 and 2020.
Thompson stated that Sentry must make the first move if the USGA is to reconsider returning.
Thompson stated that if we were invited back we would be hard-pressed to not look at it closely and possibly return. This is the bottom line of any of our championships. First and foremost, we have to be asked. We might knock on the door to ask, “Can we speak?” but we need an invitation first.
SentryWorld may still be able to host prestigious golf events even if the USGA does not return soon.
Mark Rolfing is an NBC golf expert and longtime SentryWorld supporter. He said that there were limitations on the types of events SentryWorld can host. However, he suggested an event he believes would fit perfectly.
The U.S. Open will not be held here. No. Will they be hosting the Ryder Cup? No. Rolfing stated that the Midwest was such a good area for certain types of events, I could imagine SentryWorld moving to another area, despite this relationship with USGA. “An event I’m considering — and I haven’t spoken to anyone about this — but I was involved with the event in 2009 and helped choose the venue for it. This would be an amazing Solheim Cup venue.”
The Solheim Cup pits Europe against the United States in a bi-annual women’s Ryder Cup.
The 2024 Solheim Cup will be held at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Gainesville, Virginia. The 2026 event will take place at Bernardus Golf Club, The Netherlands. No future dates have been announced on American soil.
Rolfing stated that “these events are very popular in the Midwest.” “They’ve gone to Des Moines in Iowa and just smashed them there. They’ve been to Toledo, Ohio. Solheim Cup doesn’t work in L.A. It does not work in the metropolitan New York region. It works in the Midwest, in markets such as this one and at places where sports fans are knowledgeable and rabid like in Wisconsin.
The “flower hole” is the 16th hole at SentryWorld Golf Course, Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Monday, July 25th 2022. (Copyright USGA/Fred Vuich)
The USGA relationship will only open more doors. Even though they don’t have a partnership or financial relationship with, say, the LPGA. But the relationship between the USGA and PGA Tour will open the door to someone like the LPGA to build a course like this. This would be a perfect place for the Solheim Cup. It really would.”
McPartland refers to Rolfing as “our seeing-eye canine in the game” so, if Rolfing believes that SentryWorld is a suitable site for the Solheim Cup then McPartland won’t disagree.
“He is very aligned with our views and always thinks in our best interests.” McPartland added that McPartland has rarely been wrong. “If Mark thinks so, then it’s probably an excellent idea.”
Rob Labritz said that the course was a great experience and that the fans made it memorable.
“Great golf course, great crowds. “And then, just fantastic play,” he added. “SentryWorld has a great golf course. Wisconsin is a great state. They are all about golf. I’m proud of everyone here. It was pretty amazing.”
