2001 CGA Amateur champ Marty Jertson lands spot in his first U.S. Open; he’s also exempt for 2020 PGA Championship
By Gary Baines – 6/30/2020
Most people probably didn’t like to see the U.S. Open moved back three months on the schedule — for tradition’s sake, if nothing else.
But 2001 CGA Amateur champion Marty Jertson certainly benefited from the change — and the fact that the 2020 PGA Professional Championship was canceled on Monday.
Because of that cancellation, the USGA announced on Tuesday that Jertson — along with Ryan Vermeer and Danny Balin — will earn exemptions into the 2020 U.S. Open that will be played at Winged Foot in New York Sept. 17-20.
Said the USGA in a tweet: “Due to the cancellation of the 2020 PGA Professional Championship, the three #USOpen exemptions from that event will now go to the top 3 from the 2019 PGA Professional POY Standings: Ryan Vermeer @Golf_RV; Marty Jertson @jertybird; Danny Balin @dabgolfer.
“See you at Winged Foot!”
Said Jertson on Twitter: “Okay, twist my arm.”
Jertson, a former Colorado School of Mines golfer who’s now a vice president for Ping, has played in nine PGA Tour events in his career, including making the cut in the 2019 PGA Championship, finishing 82nd. That was his fourth time competing in the PGA Championship.
By virtue of being in the top 20 of the 2019 PGA Professional Player of the Year list, Jertson (who’s second) will also have a spot in the 2020 PGA Championship, set for Aug. 3-9 at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.
Jertson finished eighth in the 2019 PGA Professional Championship, marking his fourth top-10 in that event.