Merion Golf Club Hosts Marathon Match Play Day at 2026 U.S. Amateur

The 2026 U.S. Amateur is set for a grueling test of endurance at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. The tournament moves into the knockout stage on Thursday with a packed schedule that will see the field whittled down significantly by the end of the day. The Round of 32 is scheduled for the morning session, followed immediately by the Round of 16 in the afternoon. Only eight players will remain standing to continue the pursuit of the Havemeyer Trophy.

Action begins early with top-seeded players taking the course. Highlight matchups in the Round of 32 include No. 2 Tyler Watts facing Anson Munzlinger at 8:35 a.m. and No. 3 Drake Harvey competing against Stewart Hagestad at 9:15 a.m. The morning concludes with No. 11 Logan Reilly squaring off against Evan Liu at 9:45 a.m.

For investors watching the media and broadcasting landscape, the event serves as another significant programming event for Comcast Corporation. As the parent company of NBCUniversal and Peacock, Comcast will broadcast the upcoming rounds, providing a showcase for its streaming and cable assets. Peacock and NBCSN will carry the Round of 16 and Quarterfinals on Thursday and Friday, while the weekend semifinals and championship match will be split between NBC and Peacock.

The stakes for the competitors extend beyond the immediate tournament. The champion earns a gold medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for one year, along with exemptions into the next 10 U.S. Amateurs. Crucially, the winner secures a spot in the 2027 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and the 2027 Open Championship at St. Andrews, provided they remain an amateur. A likely invitation to the 2027 Masters Tournament is also on the line.

What to watch

• Round of 16 and Quarterfinals broadcast coverage begins Thursday and Friday at 3 p.m. ET on Peacock/NBCSN.
• Semifinals and Championship Match coverage shifts to a combined NBC and Peacock schedule on Saturday and Sunday.

Source: original release