CHICAGO—Chicago-area golf fans are welcome to attend the 2026 Western Amateur Championship at the Beverly Country Club, 8700 S. Western Ave., Chicago, from July 28 through Aug. 1. The Western Amateur attracts the top amateur male golfers from around the world.
Organized by the Western Golf Association, the tournament is renowned as one of the toughest tests in amateur golf. The Western Amateur has been a prestigious national championship since its founding in 1899. Many of golf's greatest players have etched their names on the George R. Thorne Trophy, while countless others have struggled to conquer its grueling format.
The championship field consists of 156 invited players from around the world. Players have already taken their practice swings. Competitive stroke play happens on Tuesday and Wednesday, after which the field is winnowed down to the 44 low scores and ties. Those who advance play 36 more holes of stroke play on Thursday to determine the "Sweet Sixteen," who then compete in match play on Friday and Saturday to crown the champion. (See the complete schedule of events).
Notable winners of the Western Amateur have included PGA Tour stars Scottie Scheffler, Rickie Fowler, Gary Woodland, Patrick Cantlay, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa.
Fourteen Western Amateur champions have gone on to win a total of 52 major championships, including Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, H.C. Egan, Charles "Chick" Evans and Phil Mickelson. Evans, Nicklaus and Woods are the only golfers to have won the Western Amateur, Western Open, U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open.
Early in its history, the Western Golf Association held the championship at premier courses in the Chicago area, near its original headquarters in Golf, IL. The event expanded to revered courses across the country while regularly returning to the Chicago region. This week's championship is the first time the Western Amateur has been played at the Beverly Country Club since 1930.
General admission and parking are complimentary for spectators. Parking is available across the street from the country club at Dan Ryan Woods, 87th Street and Western Ave. Concessions and restroom facilities are also available. Spectators are prohibited from going inside the clubhouse.
Spectators must maintain total silence through each shot and not move until all the contestants in the group have holed out. Cellphones should be set to stun or turned off. Don't walk on the greens or in the long grass. Beverly Country Club also has a disclaimer on its website that spectators assume all risk when entering the tournament. Read the spectator rules.
Have fun and don't get hit in the head by a ball.
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