PGA OF AMERICA ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL QUALIFYING EVENTS FOR 2020 UNITED STATES JUNIOR RYDER CUP TEAM

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (July 17, 2019) — As the countdown begins to next year’s 12th Junior Ryder Cup at Blue Mound Golf and Country Club near Milwaukee, Sept. 21-22, 2020, the PGA of America has announced the official qualifying events and eligibility rules for the selection of the 2020 United States Junior Ryder Cup Team.

The U.S. Team will feature six boys and six girls who are U.S. citizens and members of the high school graduating class of 2021, or younger. All potential players must compete in the 2020 Girls or Boys Junior PGA Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., to be eligible, unless exceptional circumstances prevent the player from competing. There will be 10 players who qualify as exemptions and two Captain’s picks. The final U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team will be announced by the PGA of America on Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, following the 45th Girls Junior PGA Championship.

The American team is vying for its seventh straight victory in the biennial competition with Europe, and the United States holds an overall record of 7-3-1 in the event. Among the Junior Ryder Cup alumni are major champions, PGA Tour and LPGA Tour players including: Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Hunter Mahan, Tony Finau, Lexi Thompson, Alison Lee and Brittany Altomare of the United States; and Rory McIllroy, Sergio Garcia, Nicolas Colsaerts, Suzanne Peterson, Emily Pedersen and Carlota Ciganda of Europe.

“We’re excited to open the competition to earn a spot on the 2020 United States Junior Ryder Cup Team,” said PGA Past President and 2020 United States Junior Ryder Cup Captain Derek Sprague. “The best junior golfers in the United States will comprise a formidable team that will travel to Milwaukee next year, as we proudly represent our country and compete against Europe’s top players in this special international event.”

To be eligible for the 2020 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team, all players must compete in their respective Junior PGA Championship and achieve one of the following qualifications:

Exemptions:

• 2020 Boys Junior PGA Champion and runner-up (total of 2 boys) - To be contested July 13-16, 2020 at PGA Golf Club. In an event there is a tie for 2nd place between two eligible players, there will be a hole-by-hole playoff immediately following play to determine the spot.*

• 2020 Girls Junior PGA Champion and runner-up (total of 2 girls) - To be contested July 28-31, 2020 at PGA Golf Club. In an event there is a tie for 2nd place between two eligible players, there will be a hole-by-hole playoff immediately following play to determine the spot.*

• 2020 U.S. Girls Junior Champion - To be contested in July 2020 at Eisenhower Golf Course in Colorado Springs, Colo.**

• 2020 U.S. Junior Amateur Champion - To be contested in July 2020 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.**

• Top two boys and top two girls from the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Points List (See charts below) which began awarding points at the 2019 Girls Junior PGA Championship at Keney Park Golf Course in Hartford, Conn., July 9-12 (won by Yuka Saso); and the 2019 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Inverness Club, in Toledo, Ohio, July 15-20 (boys). Events earning points will include: multiple AJGA Invitationals, USGA Junior Amateurs, Junior PGA Championships and select independent events, such as the Orange Bowl International Junior, Kathy Whitworth Girls Invitational and Scott Robertson Memorial. In addition, points are awarded to those juniors who make the cut in a 2019/2020 PGA Tour, LPGA Tour or USGA national event.

*In the event of a tie for 2nd place between two eligible players in either the 2020 Girls Junior PGA Championship and/or 2020 Boys Junior PGA Championship, there will be a hole-by-hole playoff immediately following play to determine the spot. If the champion or runner-up is not eligible, the next highest ranked player on the corresponding U.S. Junior Ryder Cup points list will be selected. All U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Points List ties will be broken by each player’s respective 2020 Junior PGA Championship finish.

**If the 2020 U.S. Girls Junior Champion and/or the 2020 U.S. Junior Amateur Champion is not eligible, the next highest ranked player on the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup points list will be selected.

Captain’s Pick:

The final two spots will be one boy and one girl Captain's pick. For these selections, the PGA of America will consider multiple national ranking systems, such as Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings, Junior Golf Scoreboard, Rolex AJGA Rankings and World Amateur Golf Rankings to pinpoint the remaining top boy and girl selections.

2020 U.S. JUNIOR RYDER CUP TEAM POINTS SYSTEM

2019-2020 GIRLS PREMIER EVENTS

#Only the 8 players advancing to elimination will receive points for the Polo Golf Junior Classic

2019-2020 GIRLS TOP EVENTS

2019-2020 BOYS PREMIER EVENTS

#Only the 8 players advancing to elimination will receive points for the Polo Golf Junior Classic

2019-2020 BOYS TOP EVENTS

The idea for the Junior Ryder Cup came about in 1995, when a team of Europeans, including Sergio Garcia, played an informal exhibition match against the Central New York PGA Section and area juniors. Two years later, the Junior Ryder Cup was formally introduced as an event, at Alcaidesa Links Golf Course, in Cadiz, Spain, and won by the United States, 7-5.

The United States captured the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup at Disneyland Paris 12 1/2 to 11 1/2 for its sixth consecutive victory. The U.S. holds a 7-3-1 overall record versus Europe.