The Western Amateur Championship

The Western Amateur Championship is one of the most prestigious and grueling amateur golf tournaments, organized annually by the Western Golf Association. The current format consists of 156 invited players competing in initial stroke play rounds: 18 holes on Tuesday and Wednesday. After these, the field is cut to the low 44 scores and ties. Then, those players compete in 36 more holes of stroke play on Thursday to determine the top 16 players—known as the "Sweet Sixteen." The Sweet Sixteen then compete in match play rounds on Friday and Saturday to crown the champion. To win, a competitor must excel in 72 holes of stroke play and then win four matches over two days in match play against elite global amateur golfers. Historically, the Western Amateur has been held since 1899, with past champions like Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, and Tiger Woods, many of whom went on to highly successful professional careers. The tournament has a rich history of showcasing rising stars in golf. The 2025 edition was held at Skokie Country Club in Glencoe, Illinois. It was also notable for its live streaming debut on ESPN+.