Amid U.S. Amateur, Pebble Beach prepares for the Open

PEBBLE BEACH — Most of the world’s top amateur players migrated to this oasis of golf the past week. They largely sailed below the radar, amid baseball playoff races and the imminent start of football season.

But the U.S. Amateur, beyond determining the winner of the game’s most prestigious event for non-professionals, offers another layer of intrigue — as a reminder the U.S. Open returns to Northern California in less than 10 months.

Pebble Beach will host America’s national championship next year, for the sixth time.