Here's who has qualified for next week's U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club
The field is nearly set for next week's U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club.
The best golfers in the world will be teeing it up next week for the 125th playing of the U.S. Open and from a Pittsburgh native to a number of past champions trying to win the championship again, there are plenty of big storylines to follow.
The U.S. Open will tee off on June 12 and here are some of those big storylines to follow.
Matt Vogt, a former Oakmont caddy qualifies for the U.S. Open
Cranberry Township native and Seneca Valley graduate Matt Vogt was among those who qualified for the upcoming U.S. Open during final qualifying on Monday.
Final qualifying consisted of a grueling 36-hole competition known as "Golf's Longest Day."
Vogt, who caddied at Oakmont for six years and now a dentist based out of Indianapolis, shot 68-68 to earn medalist honors and a spot in the U.S. Open next week in his hometown.
After qualifying for the U.S. Open, Vogt said Oakmont and the tournament being held in Pittsburgh means so much to him, but he tried to block out those thoughts while attempting to qualify.
"It took every ounce of energy in my body to not think about that all day," Vogt said.
Vogt said he hasn't been at Oakmont since 2021 and hasn't seen the recent renovations at the course that have been implemented since then.
"It was very hard then," Vogt said. "You know, I'm a different player. I'm a better player, I know that. But I'm playing with the best players in the world, so I will soak up every single second of that week and stay insanely present. It's just a dream come true."
High School Junior Mason Howell qualifies for U.S. Open
Another big storyline that came out of final qualifying on Monday as 17-year-old Mason Howell made big headlines.
Howell, , qualified for the U.S. Open by shooting 63-63 and finishing 18-under par to earn his spot at Oakmont Country Club.
"That was one of the greatest moments of my life," Howell said after qualifying.
Howell, currently 8th in the American Junior Golf Association ranking list, earned his spot in the U.S. Open without making a single bogey across his 36 holes of final qualifying.
Cameron Young qualifies for U.S. Open in playoff
One of the higher profile final qualifying events was and featured some prominent PGA Tour names who were trying to earn a spot at next week's U.S. Open.
Erik Van Rooyen earned medalist honors with a stunning 13-under par score, six shots better than the next player in the field, but the big storyline from the qualifier was the playoff for the final qualifying spot.
Rickie Fowler and Max Homa, who was carrying his own bag, both shot 5-under par to earn their way into the playoff.
Cameron Young also made the playoff, making a necessary birdie on the last of his 36 holes to move to 5-under as well.
In the playoff, Young birdied the first hole, securing him a spot in the U.S. Open.
Can Bryson DeChambeau go back-to-back?
Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, last year's winner at Pinehurst, is aiming to become just the second back-to-back champion of the last 75 years, a feat achieved by Brooks Koepka in 2017 and 2018 and by Ben Hogan in 1950 and 1951.
Should DeChambeau be able to repeat, he'll join a relatively exclusive club of players to win the U.S. Open three or more times that includes Tiger Woods, Hale Irwin, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones, and Willie Anderson.
Phil Mickelson still chasing the career grand slam
Can Phil Mickelson find lightning in a bottle to contend at this year's U.S. Open and complete the career grand slam?
Mickelson would love to become the seventh all-time player to achieve the grand slam, already having won the Masters, the PGA Championship, and the Open Championship.
Six times a runner up at the U.S. Open, Mickelson has struggled as of late at major championships. Since winning the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island in 2021, Mickelson has missed the cut in 10 of his 14 appearances at majors.
In the four times he made the cut, he had a 2nd place and 43rd place finish at the Masters, 58th place finish at the PGA Championship, and 60th place finish at the Open Championship.
Is Scottie Scheffler the favorite to win at Oakmont?
When the players tee off at Oakmont next week, Scottie Scheffler will likely be the favorite to win the tournament.
Scheffler, the world's No. 1 ranked player, is on a hot streak currently, having won three of the last four competitions he has played in.
With wins at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, the PGA Championship, and the Memorial, Scheffler has now been victorious 16 times on the PGA Tour since winning the 2022 WM Phoenix Open.
In seven U.S. Open appearances, Scheffler has posted three top 10 finishes, including a tied for second place result in 2022 at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Scheffler competed in the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont as an amateur, but missed the cut.
Former champions in the field at Oakmont
Along with defending champion Bryson DeChambeau (2024 and 2020), a number of past U.S. Open champions will be in the field at Oakmont last week.
Past champions in the field include:
- Wyndham Clark, 2023 at Los Angeles Country Club
- Matt Fitzpatrick, 2022 at The Country Club
- Jon Rahm, 2021 at Torrey Pines
- Gary Woodland, 2019 at Pebble Beach
- Brooks Koepka, 2018 and 2017 at Shinnecock Hills and Erin Hills
- Dustin Johnson, 2016 at Oakmont
- Jordan Spieth, 2015 at Chambers Bay
- Justin Rose, 2013 at Merion
- Rory McIlroy, 2011 at Congressional
- Lucas Glover, 2009 at Bethpage Black
A full list of players who will be competing in next week's U.S. Open .
