NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Warren Golf Course on the campus of the University of Notre Dame is ready to make history on Thursday.

The Warren will become the first collegiate golf course to host the United States Golf Association’s 40th U.S. Senior Open Championship.

Despite cold and wet conditions for much of the spring, the golf course at Notre Dame is ready to host some of the world’s top senior golfers, including defending champion David Toms.

The golf course, which was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, will play 6,943 yards and will be par 70. Actual yardage for each round will vary due to how the course is set up and playing conditions.

There are just a pair of par fives — No. 2 and No. 17 — which are 561 and 514 yards respectively. There are 12 par fours and four par threes.

The U.S. Senior Open is open to anyone, professional or amateur, who is 50 years or older as of June 27 and has a Handicap Index not exceeding 3.4.

There were 34 sectional qualifiers for this year’s tournament in 26 states.

A total of 156 golfers will tee off Thursday. The field will be trimmed to the low 60 scores and ties after 36 holes.

Toms captured the 2018 U.S. Senior Open title by shooting an even-par 70 on the final day to finish one shot ahead of Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jerry Kelly and Tim Petrovic. The tournament was hosted at The Broadmoor’s East Course in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Toms and Jimenez will be paired together with amateur Jeff Wilson in the opening round. They will tee off at 9:03 a.m. on No. 10.

“Any USGA championship is a big deal and to come out and see some of the best golfers that have ever played the gameplay a major championship on a golf course, you know that local people are familiar with. [It] should be a great time,” Toms said. “You’ll be watching the great of the game — guys that have won major championships many times over, and it’ll be a great competition.”

Another featured group in the morning is Retief Goosen, Tom Kite and Tom Watson, who will tee off of No. 10 at 8:41 a.m.

In the afternoon, Steve Stricker, Colin Montgomerie and Rocco Mediate will be paired together. They will head off of No. 1 at 2:06 p.m.

Montgomerie is the 2014 U.S. Senior Open champion.

Fox Sports and FS1 will have the coverage of the tournament. Wednesday at the U.S. Senior Open, along with the first two round and part of the third round can be seen on FS1 before Fox Sports takes over coverage of the third round Saturday afternoon and will continue the coverage on Sunday.