Ryan Moore to turn professional after US Open

U.S. amateur champion Ryan Moore will end his amateur career in this week's U.S. Open at Pinehurst.

The 22-year-old Moore, the most talked-about American amateur since Tiger Woods, has accepted a sponsor's invitation to play on the PGA Tour at next week's Barclays Classic.

"We are excited that Ryan has chosen the Barclays Classic as the place to start his professional PGA Tour career," tournament director Peter Mele said in a statement.

"We expect Ryan to be competing on the PGA Tour for years to come and wish him success at this year's tournament."

Moore, who will make his professional debut at Westchester Country Club, swept the board last year with victories at the NCAA, U.S. Amateur Public Links, Western Amateur, U.S. Amateur and World Amateur events.

He tied for 13th at the U.S. Masters in April and won the Ben Hogan Award last month as the nation's top college player.

"Yes, this is definitely my last event as an amateur," Moore told reporters at Pinehurst where he is preparing to play in the first two rounds with defending champion Retief Goosen and British Open winner Todd Hamilton.

The reigning U.S. Open, British Open and U.S. amateur champions are traditionally grouped together for the first two rounds of the year's second major championship.

The 105th U.S. Open starts on Thursday.

This years news archive | Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page