Merion named as site of 2013 US Open

MAMARONECK, New York, June 14 (Reuters) Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, will host the US Open championship in 2013, the United States Golf Association announced today.

It will be the fifth US Open to be staged at the club near Philadelphia. The most recent US Open at Merion was in 1981, won by Australian David Graham.

Other previous US Open winners at Merion were Lee Trevino (1971), Ben Hogan (1950) and Olin Dutra (1934).

Designed by Hugh Wilson, Merion Golf Club's East Course was opened in 1912, and is perhaps best known for Bob Jones's 1930 US Amateur victory to complete the Grand Slam.

Although Merion is considered one of the classic US courses, at its current length of 6,846 yards, some commentators had wondered whether the par-70 layout was still long enough to host a major championship.

''From the standpoint of length and difficulty, Merion Golf Club certainly answered the question of whether it could host a modern US Open during the 2005 US Amateur,'' USGA official Jim Hyler said in a statement, referring to the last year's championship won by Italy's Edoardo Molinari.

The 2009 Walker Cup Match will also be played at Merion.

Reuters SY GC2318