One of the most demanding bowling events in the world, the 2026 U.S. Open, is
officially underway.
Held at Royal Pin Woodland in Indianapolis, the event brings together 108 of the world’s top bowlers, all competing for the second major title of the 2026 PBA Tour season.
The first qualifying block has already started, with players competing in eight-game squads on the opening oil pattern.
The Format
All competitors will bowl 24 games of qualifying from Tuesday through Thursday. Each day features a different oil pattern. Competitors are limited to a 10-ball arsenal for qualifying, and no urethane bowling balls can be used.
After 24 games, the top 32 players will advance to the next round on Friday morning. That round will be played on a fourth oil pattern, which will remain in use for the rest of the event.
Following the advancers round, the field will be reduced to 24 players for round-robin match play. Players will compete across three match play rounds before the five finalists are decided.
The championship round will air live at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 8, on The CW. A $100,000 top prize and a major title and a green jacket are up for grabs.
The U.S. Open is widely known for its demanding format. Players face three different oil patterns during qualifying and must manage their equipment carefully. Competitors are limited to a 10-ball arsenal for qualifying. In addition, slow oil-absorbing high-performance bowling balls are not allowed. This effectively removes urethane equipment from play during the event.
Major Storylines
Graham Fach arrives in Indianapolis with strong momentum. The 34-year-old Canadian finished third at the first major of the season and won his third career title last week at the PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic. He finished 9th last year and 21st the year before.
Indiana native EJ Tackett has won two of the past three “Eagles” and now looks to defend the title in Indianapolis. Last year, Tackett delivered one of the most impressive comeback stories in bowling. After sitting in 78th place after 16 games, 186 pins outside the cut, he rallied to make the TV finals and defeated No. 1 seed Andrew Anderson 238-184 in the title match.
And finally, to show how demanding the U.S. Open can be, consider this example. Brandon Bonta won the season-opening major with a 300 game against defending U.S. Open champion EJ Tackett. However, he will not compete in this year’s event. Bonta finished 42nd in the pre-tournament qualifier that he had to bowl and did not secure a place in the main field.
Qualifying Round 1 take place today, with the A-squad starting eight games at
8 a.m., followed by the B-squad at 1 p.m., and the C-squad at 6 p.m. All times
local.
For results, schedule and more information please visit
bowl.com
