U.S. Senior Open returns to Oak Tree National in 2027

By Ken MacLeod and United States Golf Association

Oak Tree National in Edmond will be back in the major championship rotation when it hosts the 2027 U.S. Senior Open, the United States Golf Association announced today.

The USGA also announced that Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio will host the event in 2026 and Crooked Stick in Carmel, Ind., in 2027. All three clubs have previously hosted the event, with Oak Tree National last being the site in 2014, won by Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie.

Oak Tree National, designed by Pete Dye, opened for play in 1976. Located on 640 acres of countryside 20 miles north of Oklahoma City, the course was named after a majestic oak tree that stands on the fifth hole. Oak Tree also is home to many well-known PGA Tour professionals, club pros and competitive amateurs, including USGA champions Viktor Hovland, Kevin Tway, Scott Verplank and Willie Wood.

“On behalf of the Oak Tree National members, we are thrilled to partner with the USGA in bringing a major sporting event to the state of Oklahoma,” said Everett Dobson, Oak Tree National owner. “Pete Dye’s legendary design was built to test the best players in the world, we are indeed honored to continue that legacy once again.”

The 2027 U.S. Senior Open will be the third USGA championship and fourth major championship to be played at Oak Tree National. Colin Montgomerie defeated Gene Sauers in a three-hole aggregate playoff to win the 2014 Senior Open. In 1984, Verplank, a Texan who attended nearby Oklahoma State University, posted a 4-and-3 victory over Sam Randolph to capture the U.S. Amateur.

The club hosted the PGA Championship in 1988 won by Jeff Sluman and the PGA Senior Championship in 2006 won by Jay Haas. It also was the site of the 2000 PGA Professional Championship (for club professionals) and the 2012 Trans Mississippi Amateur Championship.

OTN completed a greens restoration in 2022, changing from bent grass to TifEagle Ultradwarf Bermuda. Members and guests are raving about the change and say the firm and fast Bermuda greens have restored the fire to National.

Tom Jones, President and COO of OTN, said the date of the 2027 U.S. Senior Open has not yet been announced but the tournament would be in a window from the third weekend in June through July 4.

“I would like to thank Everett Dobson for his vision and financial support of so many large scale events, projects and organizations that promote the state of Oklahoma,” Jones said. “We wouldn’t be making this announcement today without him.”

Known historically as the home of the Oak Tree Gang, its highly successful membership included Bob Tway, Scott Verplank, Gil Morgan, Doug Tewell, Danny Edwards, David Edwards, Mark Hayes, Willie Wood and Andy Dillard. Only Wood and Verplank of that group are still competing even semi-regularly in PGA Tour Champions events and would have a possibility to play in this tournament. Brandt Jobe is another OTN member who still competes on the senior circuit but has been injured for most of 2023.

The course is still home to a bevy of elite professional players, but has transitioned to mostly younger PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour players as well as top collegians and junior golfers. Recent members include Hovland, Talor Gooch, Austin Eckroat, Max McGreevy, Quade Cummins, Rhein Gibson, Logan McAllister, Chris Gotterup, Matthew Wolff, Josh Creel, Michael Gellerman, Jonathan Brightwell, Zach Bauchou and others.

Jones said the club welcomes back the USGA and the U.S. Senior Open and expects Oak Tree National to be a superb test for the seniors. It is the only major championship currently scheduled in the state. The USGA will be in Oklahoma for the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at Southern Hills, and the PGA Tour has four years remaining on a contract to host the Korn Ferry Tour in Norman. LIV Golf had an event in Broken Arrow in 2023 but has not announced a schedule for 2024.

Of note, Tiger Woods, currently 47, will be eligible to compete at OTN if he is healthy enough and has desire to add to his nine USGA championships (three U.S. Junior titles, three U.S. Amateur crowns and three U.S. Open wins.). His 10th would break a tie with Bobby Jones for most USGA championships. He first becomes eligible in 2026, a date OTN sought as it would also have marked the 50th anniversary of the club.

Other major championships held in Oklahoma include:

1935 PGA Championship, Twin Hills Golf & Country Club, Oklahoma City, Johnny Revolta

1958 U.S. Open, Southern Hills Country Club, Tulsa, Tommy Bolt

1970  U.S. Women’s Open, Muskogee Country Club, Donna Caponi

1970 PGA Championship, Southern Hills, Dave Stockton

1977 U.S. Open, Southern Hills, Hubert Green

1982 PGA Championship, Southern Hills, Ray Floyd

1983 U.S. Women’s Open, Cedar Ridge Country Club, Broken Arrow, Jan Stephenson

1988 PGA Championship, Oak Tree Golf Club, Edmond, Jeff Sluman

1994 PGA Championship, Southern Hills, Nick Price

2000 Senior PGA Championship, Oak Tree National, Jay Haas

2001 U.S. Open, Southern Hills, Retief Goosen

2007 PGA Championship, Southern Hills, Tiger Woods

2014 U.S. Senior Open, Oak Tree National, Colin Montgomerie

2021 Senior PGA Championship, Southern Hills, Alex Cejka

2022 PGA Championship, Southern Hills, Justin Thomas

Future U.S. Senior Open Championships

June 27-30, 2024: Newport (R.I.) Country Club

June 26-29, 2025: The Broadmoor (East Course), Colorado Springs, Colo.

2026: Scioto Country Club, Columbus, Ohio

2027: Oak Tree National, Edmond, Okla.

2028: Crooked Stick Golf Club, Carmel, Ind.

2029: Prairie Dunes Country Club, Hutchinson, Kan.

2030: Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Pebble Beach, Calif.

2032: Saucon Valley Country Club (Old Course), Bethlehem, Pa.

2038: Plainfield Country Club, Edison, N.J.

2042: Saucon Valley Country Club (Old Course), Bethlehem, Pa.