Joe Lyons exempt into Final Qualifying for US Senior Open

Joe Lyons

Joe Lyons will have a chance to join Darren Clarke and defending champion Pádraig Harrington in the US Senior Open this year after being granted an exemption into Final Qualifying.

The Galway-based Offaly man won the US International Senior Amateur for the second time in three years last season and the USGA has decided the winner deserves a spot at one of 12 Final Qualifying sites for the US Senior Open on May 18.

The US Senior Open will be played at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, from July 2-5, and Lyons hopes he will be forced to make a second trip to the US.

“The second trip would be a treat if I make the tournament proper,” Lyons told Golfweek. “For me, the (U.S. Senior Open) and Senior Open Championship represent the pinnacle of seniors' golf.”

He’d love to win the amateur medal at either the US Senior Open or The Senior Open, having made the field for the latter three years ago only to miss the cut at Royal Porthcawl.

“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.”

Lyons won his second International Senior Amateur in three years last October, and the tournament organisers are proud that their champion is now exempt into Final Qualifying for the US Senior Open.

“On behalf of the Golfweek Senior Nation, we’re incredibly honoured that the USGA has awarded an exemption into the final stage of US Senior Open qualifying to the winner of the International Senior Invitational,” said Ron Gaines, Senior Director of Rules & Competition, USA Today Sports/Golfweek.

“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 recognised as highly ranked WAGR tournaments, which reflects the depth of talent and national calibre 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.”

It will be Lyons’ first attempt to qualify for the US Senior Open, which he has opted against so far, as it would mean two transatlantic trips to compete in pre-qualifying and final qualifying.

Milltown’s Jody Fanagan played in the 2024 US Senior Open at Newport Country Club but missed the cut, while Arthur Pierse played at Salem Country Club in Massachusetts in 2001 and made the cut, finishing tied for 55th behind winner Bruce Fleisher.

Harrington lifted his first US Senior Open at SentryWorld in 2023 and won it back at Broadmoor’s East Course in Colorado last year.