It's Official: 2017 U.S. Open Headed To A Flyover State

...and the winner of the 2017 U.S. Open sweepstakes appears to be Erin Hills, at least if you read between the lines in Matt Ginella's story in which he confirms the USGA Executive Committee voting on a midwestern 2017 U.S. Open venue.

When the USGA's championship committee convened at Augusta National during Masters Week, the members made a preliminary choice. "The committee did select a Midwestern venue," confirmed Mike Davis, the USGA's senior director of rules and competitions. "But that's as far as I can go. We don't have a signed contract yet, and a U.S. Open contract is complicated, so it's never done until it's done."

And the giveaway that Cog Hill is the runner-up:

Jemsek isn't underestimating his opponent. "I haven't heard anything," he said of any USGA preliminary decision. "But the USGA seems enamored with Erin Hills."