Joe Montana, a first-ballot NFL Hall of Famer, and Condoleezza Rice, 66th U.S. Secretary of State, have been named honorary co-chairs of the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship, which will be played at The Olympic Club, in San Francisco, Calif., from Aug. 11-17.
As Honorary Co-Chairs, Montana and Sec. Rice will help guide the championship's efforts to engage the local community and promote the game of golf, while celebrating the rich legacy of both The Olympic Club and the U.S. Amateur Championship. This marks a significant milestone in the USGA’s ongoing efforts to elevate the amateur game and connect with sports fans and communities across the country.
“It’s an honor to serve as an honorary co-chair for the 2025 U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club,” said Montana. “San Francisco is a city with a rich sports history, and The Olympic Club is one of the most storied venues in golf. I’m excited to help showcase the incredible talent of these young golfers and support the USGA in making this a truly memorable championship.”
Montana is a Bay Area legend, having won four Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers. He was the first player to be recognized as Super Bowl MVP three times and also earned NFL MVP honors twice during his storied career. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NFL history, Montana is also a passionate golfer and a member of The Olympic Club. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
Rice, 66th U.S. Secretary of State under the George W. Bush administration, also has a strong local connection given her standing as Director of Stanford’s famed Hoover Institution. She has served on the boards of major sports organizations, including the NCAA’s College Football Playoff Selection Committee. Sec. Rice's leadership, both in government and in sports, has made a profound impact on promoting the values of discipline, teamwork and perseverance.
“I was bitten by the golf bug later in life and I’m excited to co-chair the U.S. Amateur this year to not only celebrate a game that I’ve come to love, but also to highlight the dedication and athleticism of some of the players that are the future of golf," said Rice. "Golf is a great game to get into at a young age – it teaches character, perseverance, and so many other great life lessons.”
The 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship will be the fourth time The Olympic Club has hosted the game’s most storied amateur championship, following playings in 1958 (Charlie Coe), 1981 (Nathanial Crosby) and 2007 (Colt Knost).
Future stars of the game shine on the U.S. Amateur stage, as a total of 19 champions have gone on to win major championships at the professional level including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods and reigning U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, a Northern California native (Clovis). Fans will have the chance to walk the fairways with the world’s best amateur golfers and future stars of the game when tickets for the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship go on sale in the spring.