MILES RUSSELL QUALIFIES FOR US OPEN WITH CHARLIE WOODS AS CADDIE

Miles Russell qualified for the 126th US Open on Monday after securing the fourth and final spot from the Florida qualifier. Russell, ranked tenth among amateur players in the world, survived a bogey on the first play-off hole to advance. Charlie Woods, son of three-time US Open champion Tiger Woods, caddied for Russell during the 36-hole qualifying round. The pair are close friends who share the same commercial agent and are both due to play college golf at Florida State.

Russell said having Woods on the bag kept the atmosphere relaxed, describing it as the first time he had carried a friend as caddie. The medalist from the Florida qualifier was Giuseppe Puebla, who ranks second to Russell in the American Junior Golf Association standings. A total of 715 players competed across ten qualifying sites stretching from coast to coast and into Canada, with 43 places available for the US Open. Previous qualifying rounds had already taken place in England, Japan and Dallas.

The tournament is scheduled to begin at Shinnecock Hills next week. Russell declined to confirm whether Charlie Woods would caddie for him there, saying only that the matter was yet to be determined. Elsewhere in qualifying, Billy Horschel secured his place in the field through one of the two Ohio qualifiers. Tony Finau missed out by two shots, meaning he will not compete in the US Open for the first time since 2017.