NOW PLAYING: U.S. Open Final Qualifying

Takumi Kanaya, 25, of Japan, played in the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club. He was exempt after receiving the Mark H. McCormack Medal as the world’s leading male in the World Amateur Golf Ranking®/WAGR®. Kanaya has claimed six Japan Golf Tour events, including the 2023 BMW Tour Championship Mori Building Cup. He won the 2018 Asia-Pacific Amateur to earn a 2019 Masters invitation, and reached the Round of 32 in the 2019 U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst.

Michael Kim, 30, of the Republic of Korea, was added to the 2023 U.S. Open field as the first alternate from the Dallas, Texas, final qualifier. He had not played in a U.S. Open in a decade when he was low amateur in 2013 at Merion Golf Club, where he tied for 17th. Kim, who was born in Korea and raised in San Diego, Calif., won the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic by eight strokes in 2018 and has one top-10 finish this season. He was a member of the winning 2013 USA Walker Cup Team.

Drew Kittleson, 35, of Scottsdale, Ariz., hopes to return to Pinehurst Resort & Country Club where he was the runner-up in the 2008 U.S. Amateur, losing to Danny Lee in the 36-hole final. Kittleson, a reinstated amateur, is an owner of a kitchen and bathroom remodeling company. He was the medalist with a 2-under 68 in U.S. Open local qualifying at Phoenix (Ariz.) Country Club on May 13. Kittleson and partner Drew Stoltz have twice been runners-up in the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship (2022, 2023).

Kelly Kraft, 35, of Dallas, Texas, is a PGA Tour member who hopes to compete in his first U.S. Open. Kraft won the 2011 U.S. Amateur, defeating Patrick Cantlay in the final. He forfeited his exemption into the 2012 U.S. Open as U.S. Amateur champion by turning professional following that year’s Masters. Kraft, a member of the 2011 USA Walker Cup Team, has played in the other three major championships.

PJ Maybank, 19, of Cheboygan, Mich., advanced to final qualifying for the second consecutive year after carding a 68 in the Duncan, Okla., local qualifier on April 22. Maybank, who is completing his freshman season at the University of Oklahoma, captured the Drive, Chip & Putt national championship (age 12-13 division) in 2018. Last year, he won the Azalea Invitational by 11 strokes at the Country Club of Charleston (S.C.) and tied for second in the Terra Cotta Invitational. He claimed Michigan’s Division III state high school championship in 2021.

Callum McNeill, 30, of Scotland, was co-medalist with a 68 in local qualifying at Fair Oaks (Texas) Golf & Country Club on April 29. He moved forward to the second stage of qualifying for the second consecutive year. McNeill, a former assistant professional at The Clubs at Houston Oaks, has competed in events on three different professional tours. His brother is a jumps jockey who was on the winning horse in the 2017 New Zealand Grand National hurdle race. McNeill has worked with Hal Sutton, a veteran of 18 U.S. Opens, including a tie for seventh in 1999 at Pinehurst No. 2.

Francesco Molinari, 41, of Italy, has played in 13 U.S. Opens. His best result was a tie for 13th in 2021 at Torrey Pines’ South Course. He carded a bogey-free 69 in the final round to win the 2018 Open Championship at Carnoustie and became the first Italian to win a major. He owns three PGA Tour victories, including the 2019 Arnold Palmer Invitational. Molinari, who has been a member of three winning European Ryder Cup Teams, has won six DP World Tour events.

Ryan Moore, 41, of Las Vegas, Nev., has played in 10 U.S. Opens, with his best finish a tie for 10th at Bethpage State Park in 2009. Moore, a five-time PGA Tour winner, also played in all 72 holes of the 2005 and 2014 U.S. Opens at Pinehurst No. 2. He won the 2004 U.S. Amateur and the 2002 and 2004 U.S. Amateur Public Links titles and is one of five golfers to win the NCAA Championship and U.S. Amateur in the same year (2004). He was a member of the 2003 USA Walker Cup Team.

Geoff Ogilvy, 46, of Australia, claimed the 2006 U.S. Open Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club when he defeated Jim Furyk, Colin Montgomerie, and Phil Mickelson by one stroke. Ogilvy, who has played in 13 U.S. Opens, including two at Pinehurst, won eight PGA Tour and four DP World Tour events. He also was victorious in the 2008 Australian Open and 2010 Australian PGA Championship.

Carlos Ortiz, 33, of Mexico, played in his fourth U.S. Open last year after advancing from the Boynton Beach, Fla., final qualifier. He won the PGA Tour’s Houston Open in 2020 when he defeated 2016 U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson and 2017 U.S. Open runner-up Hideki Matsuyama by two strokes. Ortiz, who played as a collegian at North Texas, now competes on LIV Golf.

Andrew Paysse, 28, of Temple, Texas, and his brother, William, each advanced from the Horseshoe Bay, Texas, local qualifier on May 6. Andrew is the brother-in-law of PGA Tour player and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who won this year’s Masters Tournament and Players Championship. Paysse, who is an account executive for the family’s insurance company, married Callie Scheffler, who like Andrew played golf at Texas A&M University. Andrew advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur at Erin Hills and qualified for last year’s U.S. Amateur.

William Paysse, 24, of Temple, Texas, and his brother, Andrew, were among seven players who advanced from the Horseshoe Bay, Texas, local qualifier on May 6. The brothers, who each carded 3-under 68s, have never played in the U.S. Open. Andrew is world No. 1 Scottie’s Scheffler’s brother-in-law. Like his older brother, William had a celebrated college career at Texas A&M and has played in two U.S. Amateurs. Now competing as a professional, William earned all-region and All-Southeastern Conference honors for the Aggies.

Patrick Reed, 33, of The Woodlands, Texas, has competed in 10 U.S. Opens. His best finish was fourth in 2018 at Shinnecock Hills. He won the 2018 Masters by one stroke over Rickie Fowler and owns nine PGA Tour victories. He reached the quarterfinals of the 2008 U.S. Amateur and tied for 35th in the 2014 U.S. Open, both at Pinehurst No. 2. Reed helped Augusta State win two NCAA titles (2010, 2011).

Brendan Steele, 41, of Idyllwild, Calif., has competed in five U.S. Opens, with his best finish a tie for 13th in 2017 at Erin Hills. Steele, the owner of three PGA Tour victories, has played on five professional tours. He started on the Golden State Tour in California, moved to PGA Tour Canada, Korn Ferry, PGA Tour and now LIV Golf. He recorded his first victory as an LIV member on April 28 in Australia.

Kevin Streelman, 45, of Winfield, Ill., played in his ninth U.S. Open last year after he moved forward from the Columbus, Ohio, final qualifier. He posted his best finish in 2016 when he tied for 13th at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club. Streelman has won twice on the PGA Tour and has victories on the NGA Hooters and Gateway tours. He once caddied at Chicago Golf Club, one of five founding members of the United States Golf Association.

Caleb Surratt, 20, of Indian Trail, N.C., is attempting to qualify for his first U.S. Open. He turned professional on Jan. 30, 2024 when he joined LIV Golf. Surratt was chosen Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year and first team All-SEC as a member of the University of Tennessee golf team in 2022-23. He was a member of the victorious 2023 USA Walker Cup Team. In 2022, Surratt was the runner-up to Wenyi Ding in the U.S. Junior Amateur at Bandon Dunes.

Walton Heath Golf Club (New & Old Courses)
Surrey, England; 111 players for TBD spots

Rafa Cabrera Bello, 39, of Spain, has competed in eight U.S. Opens and made the 36-hole cut in seven. His best finish was a tie for 23rd in 2020. He has won four times on the DP World Tour. He tied for fifth in the 2016 Summer Olympics while representing his country. His sister, Emma, competes on the Ladies European Tour.

Ross Fisher, 43, of England, finished fifth in the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage State Park (Black Course). He made his sixth championship appearance last year when he advanced from the England final qualifier. Fisher has won five DP World Tour events, including the 2009 Volvo World Match Play at Wentworth. He was a member of the winning 2010 European Ryder Cup Team.

Alex Fitzpatrick, 25, of England, hopes to join his brother, Matt, in this year’s U.S. Open field. Matt is exempt due to his victory in the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club, in Brookline, Mass. Alex, who won on the Challenge Tour last year, played college golf at Wake Forest and reached the Round of 16 of the 2019 U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club. Alex, who caddied for his brother at age 14 when Matt won the 2013 U.S. Amateur, is a two-time Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cupper.

Sam Horsfield, 27, of England, has played in four U.S. Opens and 15 USGA championships. Horsfield, who was the medalist in 2017 PGA European Tour Qualifying School, own three victories on the DP World Tour, including the 2022 Soudal Classic. Horsfield was chosen first-team All-American and SEC Freshman of the Year in 2016 while playing at the University of Florida.

James Nicholas, 27, of Scarsdale, N.Y., aims to play in his first U.S. Open. He was the medalist with a 65 in the Armonk, N.Y., local qualifier on May 2 at Whipporwill Club. Nicholas, who competes on the DP World Tour, was a strong safety on the Yale University football team as a freshman before concentrating solely on golf. He would become the 2019 Ivy League’s player of the year as a senior. His grandfather (Dr. James A. Nicholas) was an orthopedic surgeon and physician for several New York professional sports franchises.

Wilco Nienaber, 24, of South Africa, tied for 68th in his first U.S. Open at Torrey Pines’ South Course in 2021. He advanced to The Los Angeles Country Club last year from the England final qualifier. Nienaber, who turned professional in 2019, has won on the Sunshine Tour and Challenge Tour. He leads the DP World Tour in driving distance and his best finish was second at the UAE Challenge on April 27.

Lee Westwood, 51, of England, has played in 18 U.S. Opens and has recorded nine top-25 finishes. He was third in 2008 at Torrey Pines Golf Course and tied for third in 2011 at Congressional Country Club. Westwood, who is scheduled to play in his first U.S. Senior Open this year, has compiled 24 victories on the DP World Tour and has 44 professional wins overall.

Bernd Wiesberger, 38, of Austria, has competed in seven U.S. Opens and his best finish is a tie for 16th in 2017 at Erin Hills. He has recorded seven DP World Tour wins, including the 2019 Scottish Open in a playoff. He has also won twice on the Asian Tour and Challenge Tour. Wiesberger won three Austrian Amateur Stroke Play Championships before turning professional in 2006.

Hino Golf Club (King Course)
Shiga Prefecture, Japan; 35 players for TBD spots

Ryo Ishikawa, 32, of Japan, has competed in seven U.S. Opens, with his best finish a tie for 30th in 2011 at Congressional Country Club. He owns 18 Japan Golf Tour victories, including three majors. Ishikawa, who won on the Japanese tour at age 15 as an amateur, captured the 2019 Japan PGA and two Golf Nippon Series JT Cups (2015, 2019). He turned professional in 2008 and played PGA Tour events the following year.

Jinichiro Kozuma, 29, of Japan, has been a member of the Japan Golf Tour since 2012 but is also a LIV Golf member. He competed in the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club, in Brookline, Mass. He has won twice on the Japan Golf Tour. He captured the 2020 Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters and the 2022 Token Homemate Cup.

Ryutaro Nagano, 36, of Japan, qualified for his first U.S. Open last year with a 36-hole score of 133 in the final qualifier at Ibaraki Golf Club. He went on to tie for 20th at The Los Angeles Country Club and posted scores of 67 and 68 in the second and third rounds, respectively. He reached the final of the 2005 Japan Amateur as a high school sophomore. Nagano was a torch bearer for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Scott Vincent, 32, of Zimbabwe, will celebrate his birthday while competing in final qualifying, and hopes his present is a first U.S. Open start. Vincent, whose younger brother, Kieran, is also a professional golfer, won the Asian Tour’s International Series Order of Merit which provided him full status with LIV Golf in 2023. His top-24 individual LIV ranking earned him a spot for the 2024 season.