The most exciting Monday on the golf calendar is always “Golf’s Longest Day” when hundreds of players tee it up at final qualifying sites to try and punch their ticket to the U.S. Open. There is nothing quite like U.S. Open qualifying, where current top pros, big names from years past, rising amateur stars and regular folks all compete with each other for one of the coveted spots in the national championship. This year 61 players earned their way into the field at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club via qualifiers — after more than 10,000 signed up — joining the 85 players who have played their way into exemptions into this year’s championship. The big story of Monday was the youth movement that was on display across the country, as a number of the top young amateurs played their way into the 126th U.S. Open, headlined by the No. 1 junior in the world, Miles Russell. With his buddy and fellow 2027 Florida State commit Charlie Woods on his bag, Russell rode a rollercoaster at BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens to shoot 6 under — despite a triple bogey and a double bogey — across 36 holes of golf to make his way into a playoff. He made a birdie on the second playoff hole to beat Tyler Collet and earn a spot alongside the world’s best on Long Island next week.
MAJOR MILES RUSSELL 👏🇺🇸The 17-year-old is @USOpenGolf bound for the first time after 38 holes on Golf’s Longest Day alongside caddy Charlie Woods pic.twitter.com/kCA75CuBjd
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 9, 2026
