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When Joe Lyons left Cartersville (Georgia) Country Club in October with his second International Senior Amateur victory in the past three years, it made for another impressive line on a deep resume. But four months later, that victory has turned into something altogether different for the man from Ireland.
Courtesy of that victory, Lyons now finds himself exempt into final qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open in 2026.
The U.S. Golf Association has granted an exemption to the winner of the International Senior Amateur, which is among the deepest fields, according to the World Amateur Golf Ranking, in Golfweek’s year-long Senior Nation schedule. The international nature of the event draws top seniors from across the world, including England, Scotland, Germany, Canada and, of course, Ireland.
“On behalf of the Golfweek Senior Nation, we’re incredibly honored that the USGA has awarded an exemption into the final stage of U.S. Senior Open qualifying to the winner of the International Senior Invitational,” said Ron Gaines, Senior Director of Rules & Competition, USA Today Sports/Golfweek, in a statement. “This decision is a powerful endorsement of the competitive strength and integrity of our championships, and it creates a meaningful pathway for elite senior amateurs to pursue one of the game’s highest stages. Our events are recognized as highly ranked WAGR tournaments, which reflects the depth of talent and national caliber of our fields. The USGA’s support not only validates the level of competition our players bring every week, but it also reinforces our mission to provide premier opportunities for senior golfers across the country.”
Lyons has not attempted qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open before this year, largely because the two-step nature of qualifying would require two trans-Atlantic trips. Lyons stays busy with Lyons Links, a company he co-founded that operates luxury golf and sightseeing tours in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
And of course, two trips stateside would be welcome under certain circumstances.
“The second trip would be a treat if I make the tournament proper,” Lyons wrote by email.
Lyons played his way into the Senior Open Championship at Royal Porthcawl in 2023 but missed the cut. He narrowly missed qualifying for that championship in 2022 and again in 2024 when he lost the European Senior Amateur in a playoff.
“For me the (U.S. Senior Open) and Senior Open Championship represent the pinnacle of seniors golf,” Lyons wrote when asked to reflect on how chasing low amateur honors at those two national senior Opens figured into his goal list. “No question winning a low amateur at the Seniors Open would represent a career highlight for me. It is a mammoth task, but I truly believe if I play to the best of my ability, it is possible.”
In winning the International Senior Amateur in October, Lyons edged Mike McCoy, who had recently won the U.S. Senior Amateur, as well as Shane McMillan, who looked tough early in the tournament. Internationally, Lyons has won multiple Irish Senior Men’s Amateur Close Championships as well as the Spanish, Portuguese, and Irish senior amateur championships.
A month after his victory in Georgia, Lyons won the Portuguese Senior Men’s International Championship.
The U.S. Senior Open will be played July 2-5 at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio. Local qualifying begins April 2 at 32 sites around the country, with final qualifying following at 12 sites beginning Monday May 18.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Joe Lyons earns exemption into final qualifying after Int Sr Am win
Continue reading...
Courtesy of that victory, Lyons now finds himself exempt into final qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open in 2026.
The U.S. Golf Association has granted an exemption to the winner of the International Senior Amateur, which is among the deepest fields, according to the World Amateur Golf Ranking, in Golfweek’s year-long Senior Nation schedule. The international nature of the event draws top seniors from across the world, including England, Scotland, Germany, Canada and, of course, Ireland.
“On behalf of the Golfweek Senior Nation, we’re incredibly honored that the USGA has awarded an exemption into the final stage of U.S. Senior Open qualifying to the winner of the International Senior Invitational,” said Ron Gaines, Senior Director of Rules & Competition, USA Today Sports/Golfweek, in a statement. “This decision is a powerful endorsement of the competitive strength and integrity of our championships, and it creates a meaningful pathway for elite senior amateurs to pursue one of the game’s highest stages. Our events are recognized as highly ranked WAGR tournaments, which reflects the depth of talent and national caliber of our fields. The USGA’s support not only validates the level of competition our players bring every week, but it also reinforces our mission to provide premier opportunities for senior golfers across the country.”
Lyons has not attempted qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open before this year, largely because the two-step nature of qualifying would require two trans-Atlantic trips. Lyons stays busy with Lyons Links, a company he co-founded that operates luxury golf and sightseeing tours in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
And of course, two trips stateside would be welcome under certain circumstances.
“The second trip would be a treat if I make the tournament proper,” Lyons wrote by email.
Lyons played his way into the Senior Open Championship at Royal Porthcawl in 2023 but missed the cut. He narrowly missed qualifying for that championship in 2022 and again in 2024 when he lost the European Senior Amateur in a playoff.
“For me the (U.S. Senior Open) and Senior Open Championship represent the pinnacle of seniors golf,” Lyons wrote when asked to reflect on how chasing low amateur honors at those two national senior Opens figured into his goal list. “No question winning a low amateur at the Seniors Open would represent a career highlight for me. It is a mammoth task, but I truly believe if I play to the best of my ability, it is possible.”
In winning the International Senior Amateur in October, Lyons edged Mike McCoy, who had recently won the U.S. Senior Amateur, as well as Shane McMillan, who looked tough early in the tournament. Internationally, Lyons has won multiple Irish Senior Men’s Amateur Close Championships as well as the Spanish, Portuguese, and Irish senior amateur championships.
A month after his victory in Georgia, Lyons won the Portuguese Senior Men’s International Championship.
The U.S. Senior Open will be played July 2-5 at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio. Local qualifying begins April 2 at 32 sites around the country, with final qualifying following at 12 sites beginning Monday May 18.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Joe Lyons earns exemption into final qualifying after Int Sr Am win
Continue reading...
