Yuri Yoshida has earned her place in the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open, securing a fourth appearance in the major event after a two-year hiatus. The qualifying tournament, held across eight venues in the U.S., Canada, and England on May 11, was a 36-hole competition for the major’s second leg, which begins June 4 at the Riviera Country Club in California.
After missing cuts in two consecutive tournaments at the Mizuho Americas Open, Yoshida bounced back at Marlborough Country Club in Massachusetts, claiming the sole qualifying spot available there. She shot a first-round 70 with four birdies and two bogeys, then followed with a second-round 67, carding six birdies and one bogey to finish at 7-under par. This was three strokes ahead of Alexa Pano, who has one LPGA Tour title, and secured Yoshida’s return to the U.S. Women’s Open for the first time since 2024.
Erika Hara, who had also recorded two straight ninth-place finishes, took a different path, competing at Essex Country Club in New Jersey just a day after the Mizuho Americas Open. She shot rounds of 68 and 72 to finish at 2-under par, forcing a playoff with Rose Zhang, Gina Kim, and Rainey Fry. However, Hara was eliminated on the first playoff hole, failing to secure even the alternate positions.
Despite fighting hard in a deep field that included many players from the U.S. tour, Hara could not earn her second U.S. Women’s Open appearance since the COVID-era tournament in December 2020. She is still scheduled to play in the Kroger Queen City Championship and the ShopRite LPGA Classic, where winners also receive exemptions to the major.
At the same qualifying site, Kana Sakurai withdrew after shooting a first-round 79.
– Yuka Saso (winner in the last 10 years)
– Rio Takeda, Mao Saigo, Hinako Shibuno (top 10 in last year’s event)
– Ayaka Furue (winner of The Evian Championship in the last five years)
– Miyuu Yamashita (winner of the AIG Women’s Open in the last five years)
– Akie Iwai, Chisato Iwai, Minami Katsu, Nasa Hataoka (top 30 in last season’s LPGA points ranking)
– Yuna Araki, Sora Kamiya, Yui Kawamoto, Sakura Koiwai, Akari Sakuma, Fuka Kaku, Ai Suzuki (ranked within top 75 of world ranking as of March 25)
– Miu Goto, Sayaka Takahashi, Amiyu Ozeki (winners of Japan’s final qualifying)
*Overlapping exemptions excluded. Players within the top 75 of world rankings as of May 25 also receive spots.