Alternates are permitted to be on-site at the championship in the event of a day-of withdrawal. Prior to the day of the first round of the championship, the USGA alternate procedure is utilized. Any day-of withdrawals will be filled by on-site alternates^ due to the timing of the withdrawal.
Any withdrawals that are received prior to the day of the first round of stroke play will be filled using the USGA alternate procedure as outlined above, regardless of any on-site alternate.
Beginning at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on the day of the first round of stroke play, any withdrawals received will be filled by the on-site alternates procedure only. Beginning forty-five (45) minutes before the first starting time, any withdrawals received overnight will be filled using the process below. Any subsequent withdrawals will also be filled using the process below.
- If the withdrawn player is an exempt player, the alternate whose site is highest ranked on reallotment among those alternates on-site will be notified of their spot in the field.
- If the withdrawn player is a qualifier and an alternate from their site is on-site at the Championship, the on-site alternate will be notified of their spot in the field.
- If the withdrawn player is a qualifier and an alternate from their site is not on-site, the alternate whose site is highest ranked on reallotment among the on-site alternates will be notified of their spot in the field.
^ To be considered an on-site alternate, an alternate must check in with the Championship team at the championship office (for two-course championships, check-in is at the primary golf course only) beginning one hour before the first starting time. Regardless of whether a player was on-site in the days prior to the start of stroke play, only those alternates who check in at the championship office at the primary golf course on the day of the first round of stroke play are considered to be on-site alternates. Alternates may check in after the specified time and will assume their proper position on reallotment; however, any withdrawals received overnight will be filled 15 minutes after the specified check-in time. There is no priority for checking in earlier or later – priority is given based on the time at which a withdrawal occurs, the reallotment list, and the procedure above.
For the purposes of applying this policy, the timing of a withdrawal occurs when the USGA championship team becomes aware of it. For example, the USGA championship team may not become aware of a withdrawal that is sent at 11:45 p.m. local time until the following day, at which point the withdrawal will be filled by on-site alternates only.
What if there are no on-site alternates available?
For a withdrawal that occurs on the first day of stroke play, if there are no available on-site alternates, the spot will go unfilled.