And the Next USGA Championship Is ...

... the Women's Amateur Public Links Championship, where Waggler Tiffany Joh was the champion in 2006.

The WAPL begins Monday with two days of stroke play, followed by a cut to the Top 64, then on to match play. It's played this year at Erin Hills in Wisconsin, a course that is similar to Washington's Chambers Bay in that it's a very young course already drawing raves and already catching the USGA's eye. In fact, the USGA awarded the WAPL to Erin Hills before the course even opened! It has since been given the 2011 U.S. Amateur, and don't be suprised if Erin Hills quickly gets a U.S. Open, too (or if the PGA of America beats the USGA to the punch and puts a PGA Championship there).

It's a public course designed by veteran architects Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, and working with them Golf Digest architecture editor Ron Whitten. Count Wisconsan Steve Stricker among those very impressed by the site, which he compared to Shinnecock Hills. The land was carved and shaped by glaciers, and in designing and building the course, dirt was moved on only four holes.

via www.erinhills.com

As for the tournament: In addition to Tiffany, favorites in the field include defending champion Mina Harigae, Amanda Blumenherst, Kimberly Kim and Jennie Lee (all of whom were Tiff's Curtis Cup teammates).

Others to keep an eye on are junior stars Tiffany Lua, Stephanie Kono and Jennifer Song; Southern Cal freshman Lizette Salas; and T-Joh's UCLA teammate Sydnee Michaels.

Morgan Pressel's sister, Madison, is also in the field.