US Open Final Qualifying: Big Names Including Cameron Young Make It To Oakmont As Max Homa And Rickie Fowler Fall Short On Longest Day In Golf

AGONY FOR LUKE POULTER

Ian Poulter's son, Luke, shot a stunning 65 in round two at Emerald Dunes but lost out to Austen Truslow in a playoff for the final spot. He is 1st alternate from the Palm Beach event so still has a chance of making his maiden Major start.

West Palm Beach qualifiers:

T1 -11 Justin Hicks

T1 -11 Philip Barbaree Jr

T1 -11 Frankie Harris (a)

4 -10 Austen Truslow

SECOND PLAYOFF HOLE TO COME ON TUESDAY

The second playoff hole won't be played tonight, with fading light dictating that Lucas Carper and Joey Herrera face a restless night ahead of their second playoff hole tomorrow.

The Florida qualifier is also scheduled to finish then. That's it from me. Hope you've enjoyed the coverage.

NOTHING BETWEEN THEM AFTER ONE PLAYOFF HOLE

Lucas Carper and Joey Herrera are contesting the remaining playoff as the light fades in California. It's the par-5 18th and Herrera's third lands on the green close to the hole before spinning back wildly. Carper sends his closer. Can he finish it off before night falls?

After Herrera misses his long birdie putt, Carper's six-footer looks in, but it's not! They both finish with par.

CALIFORNIA PLAYOFF IMMINENT

The Valencia Country Club playoff is minutes away from starting. After that, 43 of the 47 qualifiers will be confirmed from Golf's Longest Day, with just the Emerald Dunes qualifier to confirm the final four on Tuesday.

PLAYOFF TO WRAP THINGS UP IN CALIFORNIA

The Valencia Country Club qualifier will be heading to a playoff, with Lucas Carper and Joey Herrera playing for one place. Preston Summerhays, Riley Lewis and Zachary Pollo have qualified.

AMATEUR PRESTON SUMMERHAYS HEADING TO OAKMONT

The one remaining qualifier to finish tonight will see amateur Preston Summerhays make it to Oakmont after he finished on 10 under with a second round of 63, three clear of Riley Lewis. Amateur Zachary Pollo is still playing, but with two holes left he's looking good on six under. Beneath him, Lucas Carper and Joey Herrera could be heading to a playoff for the final spot.

DENTIST MATT VOGT ON QUALIFYING FOR US OPEN!

One of the stories of the day involved Matt Vogt, a dentist who has also caddied at Oakmont in the past. He qualified at Wine Valley and told the Golf Channel "I will soak up every single second of that week."

ONTO CALIFORNIA

With Emerald Dune in Florida needing to be wrapped up tomorrow, that just leaves the action at California's Valencia Country Club to conclude today.

Four places are available, with amateur Preston Summerhays, Riley Lewis, another amateur, Zachary Pollo, Joey Herrera and Lucas Carper above the cut line, with the latter two facing a playoff as things stand. Everyone's deep into the back nine, but there's still a chance for one or two changes in the next hour or so. Let's see what happens.

WINE VALLEY QUALIFIERS CONFIRMED

Dentist Matt Vogt and pro Brady Calkins are confirmed as the two to qualify from Wine Valley in Washington! Amazing work from both!

FOUR IN FOUR FOR MAXWELL MOLDOVAN

With the playoff at Springfield, one story that flew under the radar was that Maxwell Moldovan qualified for his fourth US Open at the course. The Ohio native knows the course inside out as he plays it regularly, and he put all that experience to good use by finishing T2.

Fair play to John Peterson. For the amateur, he took Golf's Longest Day to extremes, playing 40 holes before losing out to Zac Blair in a playoff. Clearly he has enjoyed his experience, though, as he wrote on X...

ALL TO PLAY FOR IN CALIFORNIA

The other qualifier finishing tonight comes from Valencia Country Club in California. There are four spots up for grabs, and amateur Preston Summerhays is leading, with another amateur, Zachary Pollo in second, Joey Herrera in third, and Riley Lewis and amateur Pongsapak Laopakdee sharing the fourth spot.

There are a few holes to play for those in the places, with several others still hoping to take the chance to make it.

LEADER FINISHES IN WASHINGTON

Back at Wine Valley in Washington, leader Matt Vogt misses a birdie putt right on the final hole, before wrapping up a par. The dentist has caddied at Oakmont, and it now looks like he'll be heading back there as a player.

The player in second, Brady Calkins, makes par to finish on seven under.

There are enough players still on the course not too far behind to mean they won't be able to relax just yet, but for Vogt in particular it's looking good.

OVERNIGHT STATE OF PLAY IN FLORIDA

As I touched on in the last update, the Emerald Dunes event in Florida will go to a second day as bad weather in the area ensured it couldn't finish today. Leading the way is Justin Hicks, followed by Frankie Harris, who is an amateur, Blades Brown and another amateur, son of Ian, Luke Poulter. They currently occupy the qualifying spots. One big name close to them is Nicolai Hojgaard, one back of the cut line.

ALL EYES ON WINE VALLEY

And just like that, 10 events has become three, with only the Wine Valley, Valencia Country Club and Emerald Dunes qualifiers to finish. The latter, in Florida, needs to conclude on Tuesday because of bad weather in the area.

Wine Valley in Washington is the closest to finishing, where amateur Matt Vogt and Brady Calkins occupy the two qualifying places with just one hole to play, albeit, there are some others on the course with a bit more golf in them yet, so we won't know the result for a while.

BRILLIANT FROM BLAIR TO WIN PLAYOFF

At the four playoff hole in Ohio, Peterson finds the back of the green with his second shot at he par-4 fourth. Blair then knocks his approach to within a foot. Oh my word!

The amateur, who is a garage salesman, has done little wrong here, but he's got to hole his longish birdie putt to extend this now. Peterson's putt goes right, Blair completes the formalities and he goes to Oakmont.

DENTIST BEARS HIS TEETH

While we await the fourth playoff hole in Springfield, a quick update on dentist Matt Vogt at Wine Valley. He's still leading, at eight under, with just two holes to play!

DRAMA AT THE THIRD PLAYOFF HOLE IN OHIO!

Trouble for John Peterson in the third playoff hole, a par-3, at Springfield as he's deep in a bunker on his second, but he finds the green with a well-judged shot. Now Blair, who's on the green. He knocks it left.

Onto Peterson for par. He needs this to guarantee he continues the battle. It breaks left, and he mops up for bogey.

It's a relatively straightforward putt for Blair and... it lips out! A lifeline for Peterson as we head to their 40th hole of the day!

CHANCES FOR BOTH, BUT A THIRD PLAYOFF HOLE NEEDED AT SPRINGFIELD

Onto the second playoff hole in Springfield, Ohio, and Zac Blair and John Peterson both find the green with aplomb at he par-3.

Peterson's up first. Oh, it's close, but just misses left.

Now Blair. He's known for his putting ability. Let's see if it holds here. No! It heads right. They'll go to a third additional hole as the sun heads lower in the sky.

FIVE THROUGH IN GEORGIA

The Piedmont Driving Club, Georgia qualifier has finished with amateur Mason Howell and Jackson Buchanan finishing on T18 at the top. Two more amateurs, Tyler Weaver and Jackson Koivun, also head through, along with Will Chandler.

PLAYOFF IN SPRINGFIELD

We also have a playoff in Springfield, Ohio, where Kurt Kitayama, Dawson Armstrong, Zac Blair and amateur John Peterson are fighting over one qualifying spot.

Blair rolls in a beautiful putt for birdie, swiftly followed by Peterson. They'll head to another hole while Armstrong finishes for par before Kitayama does the same.

MARC LEISHMAN AND BRYAN LEE QUALIFY

Now it's onto the second playoff of the day in Maryland, where LIV Golfer Sebastian Munoz, Bryan Lee and Marc Leishman are contesting the chance for two places.

We're on the par-3 6th, where Ortiz misses his birdie putt and Lee taps in for three. Now Munoz for par - he misses and all Leishman needs to do is two-putt from six feet to go through with Lee. He misses the first but makes the second and it's Leishman and Lee heading to Oakmont.

CAMERON YOUNG WINS THE PLAYOFF!

Fowler's first with his birdie chip, miles off the green to the left. Can he chip it in? He'll probably need to... No. Didn't get the contact and he comes up well short of the hole.

Now Chase Johnson. The birdie putt is on line but a little short. He takes par and waits....

Next, Homa. He gives the green a quick tap with his putter before lining it up. He goes right.

Cole is up now. - never on line and it goes left! He finishes for par. Now Fowler to make par. He misses and that's over and out for him with a disappointing five.

Can Cameron Young knock it in from here? He can you know! Cameron Young wins the playoff!

PLAYOFF STARTS IN OHIO!

The playoff is underway at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club, where Rickie Fowler, Max Homa, Eric Cole, Cameron Young and Chase Jackson are contesting one place at the US Open.

Fowler goes badly left of the green with his second shot, before Eric Cole finds the green. Next is Cameron Young, whose approach also reaches the green. Now Homa. He had a decent tee shot into the fairway, and he's on the green too, albeir not as close as the other two. Now Johnson. He's also on the green.

Four birdie chances coming up, but it's all but over for Fowler...

DONE AND DUSTED AT DUKE

We're finished at Duke University Golf Club in North Carolina, too. There, Korn Ferry Tour pro Zach Bauchou has won on five under. Alistair Docherty finished second, while Mexicans Alvaro Ortiz and Emilio Gonzalez are also through. Trent Phillips, George Kneiser and Chandler Blanchet also qualify.

Alex Smalley, former US Open champion Webb Simpson and rising star Miles Russell are among the notable names to narrowly miss out.

PLAYOFF IN MARYLAND!

While we await the playoff, it's all over in Maryland's Woodmont Country Club. Ryan McCormick has won by five, finishing on 10-under, with Trevor Cone in second and LIV Golfer Sebastian Munoz, Bryan Lee and another LIV Golf star, Marc Leishman, on three under. They need a play off to decide which two make it

LIV Golfers including Jason Kokrak and Peter Uihlein fail to make it.

FIVE-FOR-ONE PLAYOFF IN OHIO!

Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club in Columbus, Ohio, has seen Erik van Rooyen win by six over Bud Cauley, Lanton Griffin and Justin Lower, with Harrison Ott the fifth to take his place at Oakmont.

However, there is one more place to play for, and to decide it, there will be a five-for-one playoff. Had Jim Knous birdied the final hole, he would have knocked the five out. Instead, he agonizingly bogeys from about four feet to finish outside of the playoff. That's heartbreaking for the former PGA Tour pro.

As a result, the playoff will feature Chase Johnson, who came through local qualifying, and he will be up against Eric Cole, Max Homa, Rickie Fowler and Cameron Young. No pressure, Chase!

UNCERTAINTY FOR FOWLER ET AL

There was euphoria for Rickie Fowler and Cameron Young when they made birdies at the last to clamber above the cut line in Ohio for a probable six for one playoff, but they're not quite there yet, and if Jim Knous goes one under in his final two holes, he'll get above them all to take the final place and send them packing. Watch this space...

ALL OVER IN CANADA

It's all over in Ontario, where Emiliano Grillo has narrowly ensured there will be no playoff after a birdie putt at the 18th saw him over the line along with winner Kevin Velo, Niklas Norgaard, Matt Wallace, Mark Hubbard, Thorbjorn Olesen and Victor Perez.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

There's plenty of golf left to play in Florida, but a couple of stories to keep an eye on involve 17-year-old professional Blades Brown, who is on seven under through nine of his second round and above the cut line. Joining him on the same score? A young man by the name of Luke Poulter, son of Ian.

WELL DONE, ZACH BAUCHOU!

Korn Ferry Tour pro Zach Bauchou has claimed his first US Open appearance at the Duke University qualifier. He couldn't hide his emotions afterwards. Here's what it meant to him...

AMATEUR MASON HOWELL EASES HOME!

Amateur Mason Howell has finished schooling the pros at Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta, Georgia. He's just completed his second round of 63 to finish on 18-under and head to Oakmont. He didn't make a single bogey all day!

RICKIE FOWLER GETS ABOVE PROJECTED CUT LINE ON THE LAST

At the 18th at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club, it's birdie or bust for Rickie Fowler, knowing only that will do to even temporarily move him above the cut line. Can he do something special? Yes! He hits his approach from the rough to within five feet.

Lanton Griffin then finishes with a par for a seven under. He's heading to Oakmont.

Now it's the big moment for Fowler - hole this and he's above the projected cut line and in with a chance. He holes it!

Next it's another big name, Cameron Young. He goes to five under with a birdie too, and he makes it! It's looking like a 5 for 1 playoff, which would also involve Max Homa!

CRUNCH TIME FOR RICKIE FOWLER

It's getting to crunch time for Rickie Fowler, he's still one beneath the cut line in Ohio and has a birdie putt at the 17th to move above it. It drifts left! One more chance to pull something special out of the bag or it'll be a disappointing end to a long day for the star.

LIV GOLFER KEEPS HOPES ALIVE

Another player whose 36-hole marathon is over, this time at Woodmont Country Club, is LIV Golfer Sebastian Munoz. He's T3 for one of three places, meaning the best he can hope for is a playoff. He'll have a nervous wait to see if he's done enough.

PAIN FOR PADRAIG

Three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington is back in the clubhouse in Ohio on four under. He will rue an opening round of 74, because there wasn't a lot wrong with his second round, where he rattled off seven birdies. Alas, it seems destined to leave him just short of a place at the US Open.

COOL AS A CUCUMBER FROM OLESEN

In Canada, Thorbjorn Olesen holes a clutch birdie putt on his 36th hole to move to six under, two above the cut line. Moments later, Mark Hubbard's par ensures he finishes above the cut line too. Will they stay there? More than likely, but it's a waiting game for the time being with others still out on the course. Kevin Velo finished on eight under, Niklas Norgaard on seven under, with Matt Wallace and Victor Perez still playing and on the same score.

RICKIE NEEDS TO RALLY

Is it going to happen for Rickie Fowler? If it is, it needs to happen soon. He's at four under through 16 of his second round - along with Padraig Harrington - with the projected cut at five under. Another big name currently needing something good over his final holes is Cameron Young, who is at three under with three to play.

'I HAVE HAD THIS CIRCLED ON MY CALENDAR FOR YEARS'

If there was any doubt about what this day means to the competitors, James Nicholas' emotional post-round interview will dispel them. He's finished top at Summit, New Jersey, where play has completed for the day. That means he'll play in his first US Open. He'll be joined at Oakmont by Chris Gotterup, Roberto Diaz and amateur Benjamin James. PGA Tour pro Michael Thorbjornsen was among the notable names to miss out.

Check out Nicholas' interview here...

IN THE BALANCE FOR MAX HOMA

Max Homa's marathon five days is over. He played all four rounds of the Memorial Tournament, then carried his bag for 36 holes today, and he's finished on five under - on the cut line in Columbus, Ohio. It could have been so, so better for the American, but he three-putts on the last to leave his chances in the balance.

But how about this for a touch of class? With his bag slung over his shoulder, the no doubt disappointed star trudges off the 18th, but stops on the way to sign the hat of a young fan. Good on you, Max!

TOUCH AND GO FOR FORMER CHAMPION

A former US Open winner is in the qualifying positions at Duke University, but it's doubtful he'll be there at the end. Webb Simpson, who won the tournament in 2012, is T6 for a place in the top seven to qualify, but he's back in the clubhouse after a second round of 67.

AMATEURS IN CONTROL

Piedmont Driving Club is hardly short of professional talent today, with the likes of Greyson Sigg, Christo Lamprecht, Zach Johnson, former LIV Golfer Turk Pettit and KJ Choi all playing, but three of the four qualifying spots are taken by amateurs at the moment - Mason Howell, Tyler Weaver and Jackson Koivun. Can they keep the momentum going? In Howell's case, almost certainly - he's 17 under and leading!

BACK IN THE CLUBHOUSE

Further up the leaderboard in Canada, it's looking like a good day's effort for Kevin Velo and Niklas Norgaard, who have now both completed their 36 holes. Velo leads on eight under with Norgaard one back of him. They're four and three shots clear of the cut line, respectively.

HIGH-PROFILE WITHDRAWALS IN CANADA

A decent number of well-known players have decided enough's enough in Canada, among them Jesper Svensson, Hayden Springer, Adam Svensson, top college golfer Gordon Sargent, Camillo Vilegas and Seamus Power. All of them teed it up in Ontario, but for one reason or another, they opted against completing the 36 holes.

RICKIE ROLLING ON

Back in Ohio and Rickie Fowler is still well in the hunt for his second Major qualification in a day (he made it to The Open at the Memorial Touranament at at the weekend). His second round got off to a bad start with a double bogey at the second, but four birdies since then have left him just one away from the cut line at four under with five to play.

NO PAIN, NO GAIN FOR DENTIST VOGT

What do you do if you're a dentist on a day off? If you're Matt Vogt, you put yourself through the emotional and physical turmoil of competing in Golf's Longest Day. He could yet get an incredible payoff in the form of a place at Oakmont, though. He's currently in the second of two available spots at Wine Valley with 13 to play.

GREAT EFFORT FROM COLLEGE GOLFER

Last week, the University of Illinois' Max Herendeen was named to the US Arnold Palmer Cup team. This week, he was doing all he can to make it to the US Open. He's at Springfield Country Club, Ohio. He's just finished a second round of 67 to finish on two under, two shots back of a place in the top four. It likely won't be enough, but what an effort from the amateur.

ON THE MARK

Mark Hubbard is one of many PGA Tour pros putting himself through the rigors of 36 holes in pursuit of the rigors of the US Open. He's in Canada today, where a birdie on the third of his second round has moved him nicely into the qualifying places at six-under.

Other big names occupying one of the seven qualifying places in Toronto include Niklas Norgaard, who leads, Matt Wallace, Victor Perez and Thorbjorn Olesen.

2024 MASTERS VIRAL HIT GOING NICELY IN FLORIDA

Neal Shipley went viral at the 2024 Masters for several reasons, including a mysterious side-glance on TV and the small matter of teeing it up with Tiger Woods in the final round on his way to claiming low amateur honors.

He's since turned pro and has already bagged a Korn Ferry Tour win. Now he's trying to reach the US Open. He's playing in Florida, where he's two under after 19 holes, four away from an all-important place in the top four.

MILES STILL ON TRACK

Miles Russell is in contention at Duke University Golf Club. He's right above the cut line in a T7 with Jeremy Gandon, but he perhaps needs a little momentum having gone one over for his last six holes. Alvaro Ortiz leads the way.

BLADES BLAZING A TRAIL

After a weather delay, they're back under way at Emerald Dunes Golf Club in Florida, and Blades Brown is still impressing. After an opening round of 65, he's now the co-leader with Justin Hicks after completing his third successive birdie on the 14th. He's not far away from finishing Golf's Longest Day, and as things stand, it could be one of his greatest.

LIV GOLFERS LURKING IN MARYLAND

Woodmont Country Club has some big potential LIV Golf moves in the offing. Brendan Steele, Sebastian Munoz and Marc Leishman are just one back of the cut line, with Jason Kokrak two away. Peter Uihlein's having a tougher time of it, at one over and four adrift. Ryan Mccormick is in the lead.

MAX IN THE MIX

You'd have to imagine fatigue is setting in for Max Homa now. Not only did he complete four rounds of the Memorial Tournament, which finished yesterday, but he's taking on 36 holes at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club carrying his own bag!

He's probably a matter of hours away from the most welcome sleep of his life, but you wouldn't think so to see his performance. He's just made his second successive birdie to move to five under and fifth for one of the six places. He has six holes to play. Keep going, Max!

MASON MARCHES ON!

You've got to hand it to Mason Howell. He's ranked 496th in the amateur game, but now has a lead of five at Piedmont. After 29 holes today he is bogey free and has 16 birdies! Meanwhile, the likes of Major winner Zach Johnson and KJ Choi, who won the 2024 Senior Open, trail in his wake.

SIMMERING IN SPRINGFIELD

Four places are up for grabs at Springfield, Ohio, where amateur John Peterson leads. Just beneath the cut line are PGA Tour pros Kurt Kitayama, Robert Streb, Dylan Wu and Zac Blair.

One PGA Tour star who won't be joining them in the mix is Beau Hossler, who'd had enough after five holes of his second round.

AMATEURS EXCEL IN GEORGIA

There are five spots available at Piedmont Driving Club in Georgia, where one of the field is college golfer Jackson Koivun. He's doing well, currently T4, and is now days away from becoming World Amateur No.1. He'll get there next week after the player currently in the top spot, Luke Clanton, tees it up in his first PGA Tour event as a professional, the RBC Canadian Open. Another amateur, Mason Howell, is currently leading by three.

BIG NAMES BATTLING IT OUT IN OHIO

It's all happening at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club in Ohio, where well-known names including Erik van Rooyen, Bud Cauley, Justin Lower and Eric Cole are all currently in the qualifying spots.

But beneath the cut line? Max Homa, Rickie Fowler, Padraig Harrington, former LIV Golfer James Piot, Lanto Griffin, Alex Noren, Adam Hadwin, Matt Kuchar, Cameron Young, Jake Knapp and Patrick Rodgers!

DENTIST SHARES LEAD IN WASHINGTON

At Wine Valley Golf Club in Washington, one name near the top of the leaderboard is amateur Matt Vogt, who is tied for the lead with Brady Calkins and Rudy Caparas at four under with two qualifying places available. Vogt is a dentist!

WEATHER DELAY IN FLORIDA

Golf's Longest Day just got even longer for the players at Emerald Dunes Golf Club in Florida, with a weather delay. Justin Hicks leads the way along with Brendan Valdes. Blades Brown is in third.

'PUREST DAY IN ALL OF GOLF'

Has journalist Shane Bacon summed up the essence of Golf's Longest Day as well as anyone? It's hard to argue with anything he writes here...

BRYAN BROS LOOKING FOR A BOOST

Back to Woodmont Country Club in Maryland and YouTube stars Wesley and George Bryan are both in the field hoping to finish in the top four to qualify. They both could do with something to get them going a bit, as they're both on two over on the front nine of their second rounds, five off the current cut line. Plenty of time left, but they need to make a move in the not-too-distant future.

BIG NAMES SHINE IN OHIO

A quick check in on one of the biggest names putting himself through the wringer of Final Qualifying today, Max Homa. He's on six under in Ohio, two inside the cut zone after eight of his second round, but the real star of the show so far is fellow PGA Tour pro Erik van Rooyen, who has opened up a five-shot lead over Bud Cauley.

At the same venue, Rickie Fowler is two-under, three away from the top five placing he needs, albeit with 12 still to play.

AMATEUR LEADS IN ATLANTA

Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta, Georgia has established pros including Greyson Sigg, Vince Whaley and KJ Choi in the field, but it's amateur Mason Howell who's showing them how it's done, on 13 under after 25 of his 36 holes. He'll need to hold his nerve as he gets closer to the finish line, but he's currently six shots in the safety zone for an Oakmont place and looking good.

CAN CLANTON MAKE A MOVE?

Another notable name taking part in the Canada qualifier is Luke Clanton, who largely arrived on the scene at the 2024 US Open and earned his PGA Tour card earlier in the year. He needs a little momentum, though, sitting five shots back of the top seven finish he needs to make it to Oakmont through six of his second 18.

CLUB AND PLAYER REUNITED

At Canoe Brook Country Club in New Jersey, Alex Higgs (brother of Harry) left one his 52-degree wedge on the course during his first round. Not that it's hindered his game much - he's currently T3 in the battle for four qualifying spots, although he club has now found its way back to its owner, as reported by Brentley Romine...

FORMER US OPEN WINNER MAKING A MOVE

It's 15 years since Graeme McDowell won the US Open, and five since he last appeared in it, but he's giving himself every chance of making it to Oakmont. The LIV Golfer is at Emerald Dunes Golf Club in Florida, where he's currently just two back of the top four needed to qualify. He's at four under, helped by two birdies in the first three of his second round.

BIG NAMES IN CONTENTION IN CANADA

We have an interesting situation developing at Lambton Golf & Country Club in Ontario, Canada, where Niklas Norgaard has a three-shot lead over PGA Tour pro Kevin Velo. Right behind him is Mark Hubbard, while Max McGreevy, Matt Wallace and Victor Perez are also in the all-important top seven as things stand.

FAMILY MATTERS

Amateur Preston Summerhays is playing at Valencia Country Club in California, and he's doing well, too, tied for the lead at four under. Immediately beneath him on the leaderboard? His uncle, Daniel Summerhays at three under.

ACE FOR FORMER PGA TOUR PRO

Jim Knous took a job as an engineer at Ping in 2024, all but bringing an end to his pro career, but he has been seen on the PGA Tour once since then, at the 2025 Farmers Insurance Open, where he missed the cut.

Now he's trying to make it to the US Open, and he was helped by a hole-in-one on his opening 18 at Kinsale! He's currently T5 in a race for six spots at Oakmont.

MILES ON A MISSION

Duke University Golf Club in North Carolina has a generous seven places available, and one player firmly in the hunt is Miles Russell, who's T2 on two under after three of his second 18. It's less than a week since Russell was in the field for the Team TaylorMade Invitational, which was won by Charlie Woods.

If he makes it, this would be his first Major appearance.

PGA TOUR PROS IN THE MIX

Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club is proving a productive venue for PGA Tour pros at the moment. Erik van Rooyen's leading at 10 under, but also in the mix is Bud Cauley at eight under, Justin Lower at four under, and Eric Cole, Max Homa and Alex Noren at three under.

You may recall that a year ago, Lower made it through Final Qualifying for his maiden US Open appearance. He became emotional in his post-round interview because the Sunday of the Major falls on Father's Day and he lost his dad at 15. Lower played in the final round too, on his way to a T50 finish.

STEELE TAKING CONTROL

At Woodmont, LIV Golfer Brendan Steele is on a roll! He's just completed his fourth successive birdie to move into a tie for the lead along with Kevin Johnson and Ryan McCormick at four under through seven of his second 18.

He'll need to keep it going though as there are only four places available and he's still only two above the cut line.

RICKIE ON THE MOVE

Rickie Fowler finished his first 18 today with a birdie to move to two under. Now in his second 18, he's just one back of the cut line looking to qualify for a Major for the second day in a row after making it to The Open at yesterday's Memorial Tournament.

He's had a welcome return to form of late, and a US Open appearance, after missing out in 2024 during a generally disappointing year, would be further confirmation he's getting back to his best.

NIKLAS NORGAARD ON A ROLL

Niklas Norgaard is another well-known pro in action today. The Dane has never played in the US Open (in fact, his maiden Major appearance only came last month at the PGA Championship). So, how's he getting on? Very well. He's north of the border at Lambton Golf & Country Club in Canada, where he's top of the pile on eight under after five holes of his second round. There are seven places up for grabs there today.

NEED FOR SPEED

Players making it through today's brutal test of endurance at Golf's Longest Day are clearly gluttons for punishment. After all, the US Open is known for the generally punitive set-ups imposed by the USGA. Now there's a bit of news about the green speeds too... and they're going to be fast. Very fast.

"We will play most of our golf in the mid to upper 14s, but that's what Oakmont is all about!" says USGA Managing Director of rules and competitions Jeff Hall.

That refers to the stimpmeter reading, which is used to measure the speed of greens. Per the USGA’s Stimpmeter Instruction Booklet, “Stimpmeter readings on American golf courses generally range from 7 feet to 12 feet."

LIV GOLFERS GALORE IN MARYLAND

At Woodmont Country Club in Maryland, we have a smattering of LIV Golfers in the field looking to finish in the top four to qualify. At the moment, there's a tie for third with four players at two under, including Brendan Steele. Further down is Sebastian Munoz at even par after 18, Anirban Lahiri, Marc Leishman and Peter Uihlein at one over, Yubin Jang at two over and Jason Kokrak at three over.

You'd expect at least one of them to make it at the end of the day, but another LIV Golfer with plenty to do is Lucas Herbert, who's six over after a first round of 77. Another from the circuit started at Woodmont, too - Mito Pereira, but he called it a day after a three over first round.

SECOND TIME LUCKY FOR BRANDT?

If there's one player you simply had to feel for at yesterday's Memorial Tournament finale, it was Brandt Snedeker. He was up against Rickie Fowler for one place in The Open available at Muirfield Village, with the spot going to the player finishing highest not otherwise exempt.

The pair were level at the end, but Fowler made it ahead of Snedeker. How? He had a higher world ranking at the start of the week. Let's see if Snedeker can get to the US Open today. He's currently one over after 16 at Springfield. There are four places available, with two under currently the score to reach.

END OF THE ROAD FOR SERGIO - BUT MORE LIV GOLFERS IN THE HUNT

If you're wondering where Sergio Garcia is in all this, the short answer is, he's not. The Spaniard played a couple of weeks ago in a Dallas Final Qualifier, but missed out, meaning his 25-year run of taking part in the US Open is now over. There are some other LIV Golfers looking for a way in today, though, including Graeme McDowell, who is T19 after his first round at Emerald Dunes Golf Club hoping to catch one of four spots.

Marc Leishman is another. He's at Woodmont in Maryland and T31, four back of the last of four qualifying spots.

VAN ROOYEN OUT IN FRONT

While Homa and Fowler are two of the standout names at Kinsale, it's two-time PGA Tour winner Erik van Rooyen who's making the early running. He's on eight under after a first round of 64. Eric Cole is another big name trying to play his way into Oakmont, at two under in T8, just one off Homa, who's tied for the final qualifying spot.

BLADES LOOKING SHARP

We have some notable names making a move at Florida's Emerald Dunes Club already, with prodigy Blades Brown leading the way at seven under after a first 18 of 65. Nicolai Hojgaard's not far behind him. He's currently fifth on five under through 13. There are only four spots available though, so nothing's remotely guaranteed at this early stage.

TWO IN A ROW FOR RICKIE?

Homa is far from the only high-profile players teeing it up today. He's joined by some big-name PGA Tour stars and LIV Golfers, too, including Rickie Fowler, who's playing at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club in Ohio. Like Homa, he also played in the Memorial Tournament, where he booked his place at The Open in July at Royal Portrush?

Can he make it two days in a row where he makes it to a Major? There are six places up for grabs at the venue, and he's standing at one over after nine holes. Homa currently holds the final qualifying spot at three under.

MARATHON FOR MAX

It's known as Golf's Longest Day for a reason, with players competing at 10 venues - nine in the US, one in Canada - with each event being held over a grueling 36 holes, and the possibility of a playoff if it comes down to it.

In particular, spare a thought for Max Homa, who not only headed to Final Qualifying immediately after four days of the Memorial Tournament, but is also carrying his own bag! He'll be hoping it's worth it as he looks for a sixth consecutive US Open place.

WELCOME!

Welcome to coverage of Golf's Longest Day, where players up and down the US and Canada try to take a place in the US Open at Oakmont via Final Qualifying. I'll be keeping you up to date with events throughout the remainder of the day as we see who makes it and who misses out.