Japanese newcomer Ryo Hisatsune found himself in a state of pure elation after being granted one of the highly coveted invitations to compete in the prestigious Masters Tournament at Augusta National in April. At just 21 years old, Hisatsune, currently participating in the Mexico Open on the PGA TOUR, will have the opportunity to join his fellow countryman and reigning Masters champion, Hideki Matsuyama, in the 88th edition of this esteemed golf event.

Reflecting on the unforgettable moment, Hisatsune shared his disbelief upon receiving an unexpected phone call from Augusta National. The anticipation built as he wondered about the identity of the caller. To his amazement, it was Augusta National delivering the incredible news. Overwhelmed with excitement, Hisatsune's reaction was immediate and intense. Jumping up in his room, he couldn't contain his emotions, shaking with surprise and rendered speechless by the magnitude of the honor bestowed upon him.

"Winning the title, just like Hideki did, and now having the opportunity to play in the Masters, it feels like my dream has finally become a reality."

As Hisatsune prepares to set foot on the revered Augusta National course this coming spring, it will signify another remarkable achievement in his burgeoning career. Having honed his skills on the professional circuit in Japan, where he secured three victories on the developmental tour, Hisatsune went on to earn his DP World Tour card through Qualifying School at the close of 2022. Further solidifying his status, he made history as only the third Japanese golfer to claim a triumphant victory at the Cazoo Open de France last year.

Registration is now open for the 124th U.S. Open Championship, which will take place from June 13-16 on Course No. 2 at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

A significant number of golfers are expected to participate in the championship, qualifying through a two-stage process. The final field will consist of 156 players who will advance to Course No. 2 at Pinehurst, where the ultimate U.S. Open champion will be determined. Players who are not exempt will have the opportunity to compete in one of the 109 local qualifiers held across the United States (with one in Canada) between April 22 and May 20.

Following the local qualifiers, nearly 1,000 players will move on to the 36-hole final qualifying, which will take place at 13 locations worldwide. Final qualifying rounds are scheduled in England, Japan (on May 20), Canada (on June 3), and 10 locations in the United States (one on May 20 and nine on June 3).

The U.S. Open offers a total of 23 exemption categories, including four new exemptions introduced last year. These exemptions are awarded to the following individuals: the winner of the 2024 Latin America Amateur Championship (must be an amateur), the individual champion of the 2024 NCAA Division I men's tournament (must be an amateur), the points leader from the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour season (based on points earned during the Korn Ferry Tour Regular Season and Tour Finals), and the top 5 players in the 2024 FedExCup standings as of May 20, 2024, who do not qualify through other means.

As part of the changes, the DP World Tour U.S. Open qualifying series has been discontinued. Furthermore, the inclusion of final qualifying rounds in England has been reintroduced to the schedule.

The first round of the Mexico Open at Vidanta is set to begin on Thursday at Vidanta Vallarta, marking the final event before the TOUR moves east. This year's tournament will be the third edition of the Mexico Open held at Vidanta Vallarta. Tony Finau, the defending champion, will aim to retain his title after securing a three-stroke victory last year. The field will also feature notable players such as Nicolai Højgaard and Robert MacIntyre, European Ryder Cup members, as well as up-and-coming talent from Latin America.

HOW TO FOLLOW (all times ET)
Television:
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Saturday-Sunday: 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (NBC)

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Featured groups: Traditional PGA TOUR LIVE coverage of two concurrent featured groups
Featured holes: A combination of par 3s and iconic or pivotal holes

Canadian golfer Nick Taylor secured his fourth PGA TOUR victory at the WM Phoenix Open on Sunday, defeating Charley Hoffmann with a birdie-3 on the second playoff hole. This win propelled the 35-year-old up 11 spots in the International Team standings for the Presidents Cup, now ranking at No. 3. With just over seven months remaining until the event takes place at The Royal Montreal Golf Club, Taylor is closely trailing Tom Kim and Jason Day.

This triumph marks Taylor's first victory since his thrilling playoff win at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, where he made history as the first Canadian to win the national championship in 69 years. Following his success at TPC Scottsdale, he climbed to No. 6 in the FedExCup rankings and secured a spot in the top-5 of the International Team standings. Taylor now has his sights set on representing Captain Mike Weir's team in Montreal this September.

When asked about his goals for representing Canada later this year, Nick Taylor expressed his desire to have both process goals and specific achievements to strive for. He highlighted the Olympics and the Presidents Cup as significant events on his goal list. Taylor emphasized the importance of having something to look forward to in addition to focusing on the process.

For the 2024 International Team, there will be a total of six automatic qualifiers and six Captain's picks. The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) will determine the automatic qualifiers, with the top six eligible international players in the OWGR after the conclusion of the 2024 BMW Championship securing their spots. Currently, there are six Canadian players ranked within the top 20 in the standings: Nick Taylor (3), Corey Conners (10), Adam Hadwin (13), Adam Svensson (16), Mackenzie Hughes (18), and Taylor Pendrith (20).