Rickie Fowler and Max Homa miss out on Oakmont after play-off defeat, while a dentist and two amateurs book their major breakthroughs
Golf’s ‘longest day’ delivered a mix of heartbreak and fairytale, as US Open qualifying concluded with shocks, play-offs, and a dentist booking his dream debut at Oakmont.
Rickie Fowler and Max Homa headlined the fallen stars, both failing to qualify after a nerve-shredding five-way play-off at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club in Columbus, Ohio. The duo were edged out by Cameron Young, who drained a decisive 12-foot birdie putt at the first extra hole to snatch the final qualifying spot.
Fowler and Homa’s absence from this month’s US Open will be keenly felt—particularly for Homa, who had appeared at every major since 2019. In a moment emblematic of the day’s brutal pressure, Homa three-putted for par on his final regulation hole, falling into the play-off, having carried his own bag following a split with his caddie.
Meanwhile, Young’s relief was palpable. The 28-year-old, who boasts five top-10 finishes in majors since 2022, returns to the big stage once again. He joined a field of 47 players who advanced through final qualifying on Monday—an annual golf marathon spanning 10 venues and 36 holes per participant.
Among the new faces heading to Oakmont is English amateur Tyler Weaver, 22, who clinched his place in Atlanta. Joining him in the tournament is Matt Vogt, a Pittsburgh-based dentist who stunned the field in Washington with rounds of 68-68.
“I knew I could do it,” an emotional Vogt said. “It took every ounce of energy not to think about Oakmont and Pittsburgh and what it means to me. It feels like a dream, but it’s real.”
Vogt’s story resonated with golf fans worldwide: a working professional and former caddie at Oakmont turning his local knowledge into a once-in-a-lifetime ticket to the third major of the year.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Mason Howell made waves in Atlanta, sharing the top spot with Jackson Buchanan after both fired consecutive rounds of 63. Though Howell ultimately missed out in the final allocation, his presence among professionals added sparkle to the qualifying spectacle.
Elsewhere, England’s Matt Wallace, a five-time DP World Tour winner, secured his Oakmont berth via the Ontario event. South African Erik Van Rooyen also advanced after finishing 13 under par.
Three-time major champion Padraig Harrington narrowly missed out. Despite a valiant second-round 66, an earlier 74 left him one shot outside the cutline—a painful miss in a career now filled with near-misses and nostalgic comebacks.
LIV Golf’s presence was noticeable but muted. Of the 15 LIV players originally in the Maryland field, five withdrew before teeing off—including Bubba Watson and Lee Westwood—while five others retired mid-round as qualification hopes faded.
The Florida-based qualifier at West Palm Beach, delayed by storms, wrapped up on Tuesday. It was there that Luke Poulter, son of Ryder Cup stalwart Ian Poulter, lost in a play-off to Austen Truslow, falling just short of his first major appearance.
As the dust settles from the chaos of qualifying, attention turns to Oakmont Country Club, where the 2025 US Open tees off on June 12. With rising stars, Cinderella stories, and notable absentees all shaping the field, drama is already guaranteed
