Returning to Riviera

The USGA continues to have Southern California on its mind.

On the heels of the U.S. Open’s return to the Los Angeles market after 75 years, the USGA announced that The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, has been selected to host the 131st U.S. Open Championship scheduled for June 12-15, 2031.

“Riviera Country Club is a truly spectacular course that holds a special place in the game’s history,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer. “We are thrilled to bring the U.S. Open back to the site of such historic moments for golf and the USGA, and look forward to writing a new chapter in 2031.”

The 2031 U.S. Open will be the fifth USGA championship held at the club. Riviera previously hosted the 1948 U.S. Open won by Ben Hogan, the 1998 U.S. Senior Open won by Hale Irwin and the 2017 U.S. Amateur won by Doc Redman. The course will also welcome its first U.S. Women’s Open in 2026.

“We are so grateful that the USGA will return the U.S. Open to our club in 2031,” Riviera CEO Megan Watanabe said. “Over a six-year period, we will showcase our championship course to the world with the U.S. Women’s Open in 2026, the men’s and women’s Olympics competition in 2028 and the U.S. Open in 2031. In addition, we will celebrate our 100th anniversary in 2026. We would like to thank the USGA for their confidence and trust in us and we look forward to continuing our long relationship together in the years ahead.”

The 1948 U.S. Open was the first held in California. Hogan, who had previously won the 1942, 1947 and 1948 Los Angeles Opens at Riviera, would post a winning total of 276 and set a 72-hole U.S. Open scoring record that remained until 1967. Due to his impressive string of victories during that period, the course was nicknamed, “Hogan’s Alley.”

“Los Angeles is our nation's 'City of Champions,' and after a successful return of this year's U.S. Open to L.A., I am thrilled that the USGA has chosen to return to host in 2031 as well," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said. "From last year's Super Bowl to the upcoming World Cup and Olympics, L.A.'s major events create joy and economic development across our city."

Riviera was originally designed by George C. Thomas Jr. with assistance from William P. Bell and opened in 1927. The course has served as the longtime host of the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational (formerly the Los Angeles Open). The club has also hosted two PGA Championships. The first, held in 1983, was won by Hal Sutton while the second, held in 1995, was won by Steve Elkington. Riviera, the site of the 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Championship, will also serve as the host of the men’s and women’s golf competitions for the 2028 Olympic Games.

The 2031 U.S. Open will mark the 17th time the championship has been held in California and only the third time in Los Angeles.

Marshall Dick is Riviera’s superintendent.