One of amateur golf’s most respected championships returns this week as the Jones Cup Invitational tees off January 8 through 11 at Ocean Forest Golf Club on Sea Island, Georgia.
Now entering its third decade, the Jones Cup has become the unofficial opening major of the amateur season. The invite only championship consistently brings together a field that reflects the highest level of amateur golf in the United States and abroad, with past leaderboards often previewing future PGA Tour success.
A Championship Built on Tradition
Founded in 2001 by the A W Jones family, the Jones Cup Invitational was created to celebrate elite amateur golf while preserving the traditions and relationships that define the game at its highest non professional level. The event is contested as a 54 hole individual stroke play championship with a field of 78 players selected entirely by invitation from the Jones Cup Committee.
The tournament’s reputation and global reach later led to the creation of two companion events, the Jones Cup Junior Invitational and the Jones Cup Senior Invitational, both of which are also held annually on Sea Island.
Ocean Forest Provides a Demanding Test
Ocean Forest Golf Club, a Rees Jones design that opened in 1995, plays a central role in the identity of the Jones Cup. Set along the Atlantic coastline, the course demands control off the tee, precise iron play, and patience on firm greens influenced by coastal winds.
The venue has previously hosted the Walker Cup, Southern Amateur, and Georgia State Amateur. January conditions often add complexity with cold mornings, wind shifts, and limited daylight, turning the final round into a complete test of execution and decision making.
How the Field Is Selected
Unlike most elite amateur events, the Jones Cup does not rely on open qualification. Invitations are extended based on a combination of world rankings, recent results, and performance in major amateur championships.
Events weighted heavily in the selection process include the U S Amateur, U S Junior, NCAA Championship, British Amateur, European Amateur, Southern Amateur, Western Amateur, Sunnehanna Amateur, Porter Cup, Northeast Amateur, and Walker Cup representation. A Monday qualifier offers only three spots into the main field.
Notable Players and Recent Champions
The 2026 field is still being finalized, but confirmed and notable players as of early January include U S Amateur champion Nick Howell, U S Junior champion Bryan Coleman, U S Mid Amateur champion Michael Holtz, and recent major amateur winners Nick Daly, Jackson Weaver, and Caleb Simpson. Top collegiate and junior players such as Miles Russell, Cameron Tankersley, and Luke Poulter are also expected, along with past champions Jacob Modleski and John Peterson seeking second titles.
Recent Jones Cup champions include Gray Albright in 2025, Jacob Modleski in 2024, David Ford in 2023, Palmer Jackson in 2022, Ludvig Åberg in 2021, Davis Thompson in 2020, and Akshay Bhatia in 2019. Past winners have combined for more than 35 PGA Tour victories, with several finding immediate success at Sea Island after turning professional.
Why the Jones Cup Matters
The Jones Cup consistently holds a unique position on the amateur calendar. It opens the competitive season for many elite players, rewards complete and pressure ready games, and presents conditions that mirror major championship golf. With no exemptions and limited rounds, the event offers no margin for error.
As the amateur season begins on the Georgia coast, history suggests that at least one name near the top of the leaderboard this week will soon be familiar at the professional level.
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