Meet the Golfers Trying To Qualify for the U.S. Open | Golf Digest
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- Опубліковано 20 сер 2024
- The journey to a spot in the U.S. Open field often begins with local qualifying at spots around the country. A look at the wide array of personalities who try to earn a chance to compete among the best players in the world.
Transcript
Qualifying for the US Open really began
with the most famous of all the US Open victories,
certainly by an American, which was Francis Ouimet winning
in , when he was a -year-old amateur,
who lived across the street from the Brookline Country Club.
It's like the ultimate Cinderella story.
That tradition of Ouimet has continued on.
At this local qualifying level, almost , golfers try
in that first round of local qualifying.
When you go to a local qualifier, you see all variety
of golfers, the whole spectrum.
I'm Jack Druga, the head professional
at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.
Playing in what, I think,
might be my th local US Open qualifier.
My name is Mario Guerra.
My name is Nathan Han. I'm years old.
I'm David Young from Scarborough, New York.
Will Bernstein. I'm from New York, New York,
and I'm years old.
My name is Troy James, , Bronx, New York.
Originally from Saint Kitts, Eastern Caribbean Island.
The atmosphere at these local qualifiers
is actually sort of uplifting.
There's really a certain joy that the way these players
approach the challenge. I mean, it's very stressful
in many ways to play competitive golf. At the same time,
there's really nothing to lose.
I mean, there's only a few who make it through.
It almost doesn't matter what you shoot
if you happen to miss. You could shoot or shoot ,
and if you miss, you'd be in the same place.
(uplifting music)
This will be my fifth US Open local qualifying attempt,
and I've never been able to get through,
but last time it was here at Willow Ridge,
I missed by one shot.
So, there's definitely a romance with the idea.
I enter the US Open just because
I believe in my heart that I've got a chance,
and I'm three rounds away from potentially playing
with some of my idols.
I've probably played about of these local qualifiers,
and I've made it through, this is probably
about my seventh or eight time.
I've never made it through the sectional to the Open.
So, we're still trying.
I think I had about a six-year streak
where I was either first alternate or missed by one.
So, there's about six straight years
where if you beat me, you were in.
(symbols)
Everybody who goes to a local qualifier feels
it's an opportunity, and there's a certain joy
in the competition, but don't get me wrong,
there's a lot of stress, and that's really what
competitive golf is all about. You know, dealing
with that inner conflict, that inner battle.
It's stressful, and you'll see hands shaking,
and you'll see things where people look
like they're not really happy,
but deep down, as golfers, they know they're getting better,
and so, in a profound way, it's actually a joyful moment.
In the US Open, you cannot be judgmental
on the golf course, because you never know
who gonna show up that day. You can't really
be judgmental about golf.
If my game is on,
I don't care who it is,
I can compete.
You may wonder, Do any of these players have
a chance to actually win the US Open?
Well, it's actually been done in history twice.
Ken Venturi in .
Orville Moody in went
through local sectional qualifying and won the tournament.
How good are these golfers?
Well, they're among the one percent best golfers
in the World based on their having
at least a . handicap, but compared to a tour player,
they're quite different.
Professional tour players are at five times the level
that we are, but again, in the US Open,
in a one day shoot-out or a hole shoot-out,
guys have a chance against them.
Probably my biggest goal is to play in the Major,
especially around my teen years, to try to see
just how awesome those touring pros are really,
and just to play with them and have that experience.
I'm not even on a same league as Jason Day
or any of those guys. So, it wouldn't even be about,
you know, competing to win the tournament.
Just being an amateur and enjoying the experience
is what I would probably cherish most.
It takes guts. You have to scare yourself a little
to try to qualify for the US Open,
and they had an experience that day
that they'll remember their whole lives,
and might be even the highlight of their whole golf career.
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Meet the Golfers Trying To Qualify for the U.S. Open | Golf Digest
guy #1: "it's kinda relaxing. you miss one shot or two you're in the same place"
guy #2: "yeah i missed qualifying by one shot"
I've played several local qualifiers never made it through to sectionals. One year the Hooters Tour had an event near by and a bunch of the players played in the same local qualifier as me. I was paired with two of them. Both shot 1 under and didn't make it through but their game was so rock solid it was unreal. when they missed greens, it was always missed on a safe side, then chip up within 5 feet and up-and-down. I shot 72 and was happy with I carded a respectable score. Can't imagine what it would be like playing with a PGA tour player.
There is a wonderful line from the movie "Chariots of Fire" where Harold Abrahams says - if I can't win I won't run. His girlfriend replies - if you don't run you can't win. Congrats to all who attempt to qualify.
Few years ago, played with a LPGA golfer. She played for years on tour. Saw her many times on TV. Pro golfers are much better in person. It was a great honor. Broke 90. She was in the 70s. It was a hoot😀
In local you shoot 2 under par you're pretty much through. in sectionals normally 10 under gets through. In the us open 5 or 6 under normally wins. Unless your At Erin hills
Thanks for the knowledge.
So another word's.... ill never make it. haha
Wisconsin Golf unless your in south states. There -6 gets through
Carolinas, Texas, Florida, Cal, at least double digits to have a chance
Can u hire a caddie for those qualifiers ?
Also Lee Trevino qualified this way the first time.
Interesting...it would've been nice for them to do a follow up and share their results.
One shot miss... incredible
Golf is rare in the fact that any average joe can actually make it. Your average 5’9” white dude has literally no chance at making the NBA, but that same guy can be phenomenal at golf. There’s a girl I know who’s 4’11” and she rarely shoots over 70. Good video
As I say "Just keep on struggling until you make it"
At 1:47 the ball looks like its flying wide right but lands to the left of the stick
It's the wind. Strong wind can really affect shots
that's called a draw
Asa Ostrow it’s not the wind look at his swing clearly a draw
Great vid.
Love this type of content.
I thought they were sprinting on the thumbnail and i was so confused
That's gold 😂😂😂😂😂🙌
Dreams can only be achieved through blood sweat and tears
You never know. Never give up.
Beautiful course
Luke 17:6 English Standard Version (ESV)
6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
My advice to anyone going through us open qualifier is to talk to their golf clubs and talk to their golf ball.
say to the golf ball. you will get in the hole in as few strokes as possible and it will obey you
say to the golf clubs. you will hit the ball straight to the hole and it will obey you
1/15/2019
samuel Jerome probably the best comment ever seen on UA-cam. great advice Sam
Yep. Every serious golfer, including myself, is thinking about that money you can make on the PGA Tour. I don't wanna be the person watching someone else making bank.
Updates?
👌
Wheres Peter finch
TimmyVision he’s not good enough to make this lol
i hope that 15 yo kid stuck with it cuz he had a great swing
He plays at Columbia in New York now
If I ever make it in I’m revoking my am status if you make the cut you are in for a pay day
Not allowed to
@@jakegood4242 how?
@@michaelsieber6601 if u qualify as an am you have to play as an am
Doesn’t it cost something like 2 grand to even try?
breadfan262 feels like Two grand but it’s about $175
Troy Klongerbo Are you sure it’s not more? I thought they seriously upped the cost about 20 years ago to discourage casual attempts.
Edit: just looked it up: it was $200 last year which seems like a silly price unless you have to pay green’s fees on top of that.
It’s just $200
101 like
"Playing with my idols"??? Duh, I don't think so. You ought to know these qualifiers would get the worst tee times and therefore won't get to tee it up with a big name.
floxy20 just to be able to hit on the practice range next to tiger would be worth it
thats not necesarily true. i actually know someone who qualified for a major. i use to caddy at a golf club in atlanta. the teaching pro there actually played in the 09 pga championship at hazeltine. he qualified by finishing top 3 in the pga pros championship. at the time that was a way to qualify. he finished dead last but he was paired with louis oosthuizen, camillo villegas, and shingo katayama. not tiger woods level but pretty big names at the time.