A teenage golf sensation has earned his way into his first major championship at just 17 years of age.
Miles Russell secured his spot in the U.S. Open after surviving a playoff that determined the final two qualifying positions at one of the USGA’s 10 final qualifying locations Monday in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Russell and fellow amateur Ryder Cowan defeated Tyler Collet in a 3-for-2 playoff following a three-way tie for third place at BallenIsles Country Club’s East Course. Amateur Giuseppe Puebla shared medalist honors with Canada’s Ben Silverman at 7-under-par 137 after 36 holes, while Russell, Cowan and Collet finished at 6-under 138.
Russell, who holds the No. 1 position in the American Junior Golf Association rankings and ranks No. 10 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, plans to attend Florida State this fall and had a future teammate serving as his caddie Monday — Charlie Woods, the son of Tiger Woods.
“We kept it so light,” Russell said of the partnership, per the PGA Tour. “It is the first time I had a buddy on the bag, and I liked it.”
Russell was performing well in his opening round before recording a triple-bogey 7 on his closing hole for a 71. He recovered in the second round with seven birdies, including four consecutive at holes 4-7, finishing with a 67. He made birdie on the par-3 16th to reach 6 under for the day.
“I don’t think it has quite set in yet,” Russell said of making the U.S. Open. “I am pretty speechless at the moment. It is something you dream of and practice for.”
The Florida location was among 10 sites active on Monday, known as “Golf’s Longest Day” as professionals and amateurs compete in 36-hole qualifiers attempting to earn spots in the U.S. Open field. Earlier qualifiers took place in England, Japan and Dallas. The number of available spots at each location depends on the quality and depth of the competing fields.
Max McGreevy, William Mouw and Englishman John Parry prevailed in an 8-for-3 playoff at Lambton Golf and Country Club in Toronto. England’s Matt Wallace and Canadian Adam Svensson became first and second alternates from that location, which attracts PGA Tour professionals due to its proximity to this week’s RBC Canadian Open.
Two players from Argentina, Emiliano Grillo (9-under 131) and Alejandro Tosti (8-under 132), claimed the top two positions there. Colombia’s Marcelo Rozo earned the third qualifying spot at 7-under 133.
Max Homa participated in Toronto’s 8-for-3 playoff but made bogey on the opening hole — reportedly missing a par putt by inches — ending his qualifying attempt in disappointment.
Kevin Roy, Max Greyserman, Ben James and James Nicholas advanced from Century Country Club & Golf Club in Purchase, New York.
Neal Shipley and Zac Blair shared medalist honors at Springfield (Ohio) Country Club, while Dylan Wu, Billy Horschel and Nick Hardy finished one stroke back to claim the remaining three positions. Hardy successfully qualified at Springfield for the sixth time in 12 years. Shipley earned low amateur honors at the 2024 U.S. Open.
Davis Thompson, J.B. Holmes and amateurs Vaughn Harber and Arni Sveinsson of Iceland captured the four available spots from Lakes Golf & Country Club in Westerville, Ohio. Holmes, Harber and Sveinsson advanced through a 4-for-3 playoff while amateur Sam Udovich became first alternate.
Jackson Suber, Ben Kohles, amateur Logan Reilly and Jake Sollon qualified from Woodmont Country Club’s North Course in Rockville, Maryland. Sollon prevailed in a 2-for-1 playoff against amateur Bryan Lee.
Amateur Jackson Ormond and China’s Carl Yuan led the field at Gaston Country Club in Gastonia, North Carolina. Jackson Van Paris, Brandon Wu and Cole Hammer also qualified from that location.
PGA Tour veteran Chris Kirk, who tied for 12th at last year’s U.S. Open, topped the leaderboard with a 15-under 129 at Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ball Ground, Georgia. Jake Peacock, Keith Mitchell, Robbie Higgins and amateur Chase Kyes also earned spots from that site.
Qualifying continued at two additional locations in Sacramento, California, and Creswell, Oregon.
Several notable professionals failed to qualify alongside Homa, including Tony Finau, Brandt Snedeker, Matt Jones of Australia, Webb Simpson, Harry Higgs, Aaron Wise, Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas, Denny McCarthy, South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen and Lucas Glover.
The 126th U.S. Open is set for June 18-21 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.
