Two Opens for Pinehurst in 2014

PINEHURST, N.C., June 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open will be contested on North Carolina's Pinehurst No. 2 course on consecutive weeks in 2014, golf officials said Monday.

The U.S. Golf Association, which puts on the U.S. Open in New York this week, said the scheduling of the two Opens back-to-back on the same course had never been done before.

"This is a unique and wonderful opportunity to showcase the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open," USGA President Jim Vernon said. "The USGA is constantly striving to improve its championships and conducting these championships in back-to-back weeks allows the association to provide a new and exciting experience for the players and fans alike."

The 2014 U.S. Open is scheduled for June 12-15 and the 2014 U.S. Women's Open is set for June 19-22.

It would be the third U.S. Open for Pinehurst, which was the site of the tournament in 1999 and 2005, but first U.S. Women's Open. The course has also been the site of the U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women's Amateur.

The 2009 U.S. Open begins Thursday at Bethpage State Park in New York. The 2009 U.S. Women's Open will be July 9-12 in Bethlehem, Pa.