U.S. Open Qualifying Sends High School Stars to Shinnecock

Several up-and-coming high schoolers were among the most notable golfers to qualify for next week’s U.S. Open during the final stage of qualifying known as “Golf’s Longest Day.”

Rising seniors Miles Russell and Giuseppe Puebla, both 17, earned two of the four U.S. Open spots available at the Florida qualifier in Palm Beach Gardens—one of 10 sites hosting 36-hole tournaments to fill out this year’s field at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.

Russell is the No. 1-ranked American Junior Golf Association player and is committed to Florida State in 2027 alongside Charlie Woods—the son of Tiger Woods—who caddied for his future college teammate Monday. Woods in April was one stroke short of advancing to final U.S. Open qualifying himself.

Puebla is ranked No. 2 by the AJGA and is committed to Florida in 2027, where he’ll play with Jackson Ormond, an 18-year-old rising freshman this fall, who earned one of five spots available at the North Carolina qualifier in Gastonia.

The trio of high schoolers was among 12 amateurs who earned their U.S. Open spots Monday.

Arni Sveinsson, 19, who just completed his sophomore year at LSU, earned one of four spots available at the Westerville, Ohio, qualifier—and will become the first person from Iceland to compete in the U.S. Open.

In total, 18 amateurs will tee it up at Shinnecock, but they are not allowed to accept prize money. Last year, the U.S. Open’s purse was $21.5 million, with winner J.J. Spaun earning $4.3 million—and even professionals missing the cut taking home $10,000.

Stealing the Spotlight

This year’s U.S. Open qualifiers didn’t produce any feel-good stories quite as unique as last year—when Matt Vogt, a full-time dentist from Indianapolis, earned a spot at Oakmont Country Club. Vogt said his practice had received “a ton of inquiries” after he qualified for the tournament.

However, Brandon Holtz—a 39-year-old real estate agent from Illinois—will be playing in his first U.S. Open thanks to winning the 2025 U.S. Mid-Am championship. That victory also qualified Holtz for the 2026 Masters, where he missed the cut.

LIV’s U.S. Open Contingent

LIV Golf will have 13 players in the U.S. Open: Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Cam Smith, Tyrrell Hatton, Dustin Johnson, Carlos Ortiz, Joaquin Niemann, Lucas Herbert, Laurie Canter, David Puig, Peter Uihlein, Graeme McDowell, and Caleb Surratt.

Uihlein, McDowell, and Surratt earned their U.S. Open spots at the Texas qualifier in Dallas on May 18. No LIV players participated in Monday’s final qualifying events, which would have been difficult to travel to after the league’s event in Spain concluded Sunday.