Dentist, Teen, College Stars Steal Spotlight in U.S. Open Qualifying

Final qualifying for the U.S. Open took place at 10 golf courses across the country Monday, and some unlikely amateurs emerged from the crop to earn a spot in next week’s major championship at Oakmont Country Club just outside Pittsburgh.

Out of the record 10,202 entries for U.S. Open qualifying, more than 700 teed it up in the final rounds, with professionals from the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and other tours dominating the fields. However, with just 47 spots up for grabs Monday, many pros were bested by some amateurs across the 36-hole tournaments:

• Matt Vogt: The full-time dentist from Indianapolis earned one of two spots available in Walla Walla, Wash. Vogt, 34, is from Pittsburgh and a former caddie at Oakmont. He played golf collegiately at Butler but never turned pro. Vogt is No. 2,037 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
• Mason Howell: The high schooler, 17, from Thomasville, Ga., grabbed one of five spots available in Atlanta. Howell will be a rising senior this fall and is committed to playing golf at Georgia for the 2026–27 school year.
• College players: Many players from top programs around the nation, who have pro aspirations, earned U.S. Open spots, too, including Bryan Lee and Benjamin James (Virginia), Tyler Weaver (Florida State), Jackson Koivun (Auburn), Zach Pollo (Arizona), and Preston Summerhays (Arizona State).

The U.S. Open has not announced its purse for next week, but last year it paid out a record $21.5 million. However, amateurs competing in the tournament are not allowed to accept prize money.

Just Missed the Cut

Max Homa, a six-time winner on the PGA Tour, was among the five-man playoff for the final spot available in Columbus, Ohio, after carrying his own bag for all 36 holes. Homa split from his caddie of six years just before The Masters. He failed to advance out of the playoff, won by fellow PGA Tour member Cam Young.

Amateur Nick Barrett, a UPS driver from Maryland, was heartbreakingly disqualified after forgetting to turn in his scorecard after his first 18 holes in Rockville, Md. Barrett had shot 73 in the first round and would have needed to shoot at least a 67 in the second round for a chance at advancing.

LIV Golf Qualifying

Marc Leishman was the lone LIV Golf player to qualify for the U.S. Open on Monday. Many of the league’s players, including Leishman, competed in Maryland ahead of LIV’s Virginia tournament later this week. 

LIV will have 13 players in the U.S. Open field next week.