The US Open is rapidly approaching, and some have been left heartbroken after missing out in qualifying, while Tiger Woods’ son Charlie has been given a stark warning by Jack Nicklaus
The line-up for the 125th US Open at Oakmont Country Club is nearly complete, but some big names have failed to make the cut. Rickie Fowler and Max Homa will be missing from the action in Pennsylvania later this month after falling foul of ‘golf’s longest day.’
Meanwhile, a UPS driver missed out on the chance to complete the 36-hole Final Qualifying due to an unusual circumstance. In other news, Tiger Woods’ son Charlie has been causing a stir following his debut win at the American Junior Golf Association event in Florida.
Despite starting his first AJGA Invitational ranked outside the top 600, he now sits at No. 14 and has received some sage advice from golfing legend Jack Nicklaus.
Jason Day also had a peculiar mishap this month, while Ian Poulter was another casualty of the US Open qualifying process. Here’s the latest from the world of golf.
UPS driver’s US Open disqualification
A 31-year-old UPS driver secured a spot in a final 36-hole qualifier at Woodmont Country Club on Monday, with hopes of making it to Oakmont. However, a devastating mistake put an end to his dream early. Nick Barrett shot an opening 73 during ‘golf’s longest day,’ having qualified for the event last month after carding a 68 in local stages. But as playing partners Cole Miller and Jason Li headed to the scorer’s tent to sign their cards, Barrett was nowhere to be found.
“I stood up after I had a hot dog or something at lunch, and I felt my back pocket, and I felt the scorecard in there, and as soon as I did that, my heart went straight to the bottom of my stomach,” he told The Baltimore Sun.
Barrett’s mistake saw him disqualified(Image: X/Nick Barrett)
The delivery driver had failed to sign and return his scorecard in a timely manner and was disqualified, as any chance of competing in the US Open vanished.
“It’s kind of hard to express, but just disappointment in myself because at the end of the day, it is my responsibility as a player,” he continued. “I can’t blame anybody but me. It’s just a total gut punch.”
Jason Day’s ‘freak’ accident
Former USPGA champion Day will likely lead a strong Australian contingent at this month’s US Open despite being plagued by injuries recently.
Day missed the cut at the PGA Championship after a back problem affected his preparation, and was forced to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament after a ‘freak’ accident injured his wrist.
Day has touched on how he picked up his wrist injury(Image: Getty Images)
“Long story short, I was moving a bike and something popped in my (left) wrist,” he told The Loop podcast. “I couldn’t move it for at least a week, week and a half. It’s a two-to-four week wrist injury. It’s not going to be, like you’re going to have it and overnight it’s going to get better.
“It’s getting better now. The way that I moved it, it was just like one of those freak accidents. It felt like I had tendonitis in there for like two or three weeks. So when that happened, I was just like, it was bound to happen at some point.”
Charlie Woods warned by Jack Nicklaus
In the wake of Woods, son of 15-time major champion Tiger, clinching his first AJGA title and making a name for himself as an up-and-coming star, many have weighed in on whether the youngster can thrive under his father’s colossal shadow.
Woods won for the first time at an AJGA event last week(Image: Getty Images)
Nicklaus, who has won 18 majors himself, has now given his opinion. He compared the situation to when his own son, Gary, began his professional career and found the spotlight and expectations at such a tender age overwhelming.
“It ran him out of golf,” Nicklaus started, referring to his son’s experiences to AP. “Gary would get off the 18th and run to the car so he didn’t have to talk to the press for about two years. I think it’s tough on kids. It’s difficult for them. It’s even tougher today. Charlie is a nice little player. He’s got a beautiful little golf swing. Does he want to follow his father? Does he realise what’s going on?
“My kids played because they wanted to play, not because I wanted them to play,” Nicklaus stated, before discussing the lesson he imparted to his children. “That was sort of my rule of the house. Don’t play golf because of me, play golf because that’s what you want to do.”
Ian Poulter’s US Open pride
British Ryder Cup and LIV Golf star Poulter was left in anguish as his son Luke narrowly missed out on a spot at Oakmont after an intense play-off at the US Open’s Final Qualifying.
Despite not playing himself, Poulter was closely following the action where his 20-year-old son, a University of Florida talent, faced Austen Truslow in a nail-biting play-off showdown at Emerald Dunes Golf Club.
Ryder Cup icon Poulter was proud of his son’s efforts(Image: Getty Images)
The young golfer’s dreams were dashed when opponent Truslow clinched victory with a birdie on the second extra hole, ending Luke’s hopes of making it to the US Open.
However, his father remained full of pride, taking to social media to express his admiration: “Luke lost on the second extra playoff hole to a birdie. I can’t believe how impressive today’s 65 was to get him in that position. We keep using this incredible experience, and we keep getting better.”
