Pebble still in line for U.S. Women's Open

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF.--At the USGA's annual meeting, the association released that it was bringing the U.S. Women's Open to Lancaster (Pa.) CC in 2015, a course that USGA championship set-up man Mike Davis (a Pennsylvania native) once described as arguably the third best course in the state behind Oakmont and Merion.

Suffice it to say, the announcement is interesting on two fronts:

1) It continues a trend of bringing the world's premier women's professional tournament to quality courses in smaller metropolitan markets (or new courses in larger markets).

The championship returns to the Philadelphia area in 2015 after heading there this summer when going to Saucon Valley. Future sites include Oakmont CC (Pittsburgh, 2010), The Broadmoor (Denver, 2011), Blackwolf Run (Milwaukee, 2012), and Sebonack GC (New York/Long Island, 2013). USGA officials believe by targeting these types of venues it will allow the championship to become an attraction in those areas, generating increased interest without having to compete against too many other entertainment/recreational opportunities.

2) The Women's Open still needs a course for 2014.

The USGA announced in 2004 that Pebble Beach GL would host a Women's Open after it got through with running the men's Open in 2010. Yet the more time that's passed without an actual hard date being selected, the more people have come to assume that the deal was off. Well, that's not the case, contends Pete Bevacqua, the USGA chief business officer. Bevacqua says not only does Pebble Beach remains on the radar to host the championship but that the 2014 date is very much part of the discussion.

--Ryan Herrington