Finally: 2021 U.S. Open Going To Torrey Pines

Tod Leonard reports what was seemingly inevitable news following the success of the 2008 U.S. Open but which took a lot longer than most expected to reach this point: the 2021 U.S. Open is going to Torrey Pines.

With the maintenance since locked in, this was a no-brainer, even though the design sadly remains underwhelming on such a grand site. Now it's just up to the city council.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer told U-T San Diego on Monday that an item will be placed on the City Council docket this week that asks it to support hosting golf’s Super Bowl 13 years after the hugely successful 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

“It’s a great win for San Diego,” Faulconer said. “The fact that we’ve been selected again speaks volumes as to how this city came together and put on a world-class tournament in ’08. It just shows, from the USGA’s standpoint, that we know how to get it done.”

Although Leonard's story quotes USGA President Tom O'Toole saying it would have been ten years at the minimum before a return, as another Leonard column points out, the real impetus for the USGA to go back came after new PGA of America CEO Pete Bevacqua indicated interest in taking a PGA Championship there.

It sounded as if Bevacqua was ready to bring a PGA to Torrey at first opportunity. So is it a coincidence that USGA Executive Director Mike Davis decided only two months later to take another strong look at Torrey?

Maybe. Maybe not.

The view from here is that the USGA had a really nice girlfriend in Torrey Pines, and when another suitor showed interest, it busted out the roses and Godiva chocolate. It wasn’t going to let Torrey get into another guy’s car. San Diego was too valuable, with its previous record sales, and prime time TV ratings and its years-long public merchandise windfall.