Miles Russell opened his first U.S. Open with a 2-over 74 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club and stayed in contention after Thursday’s first round. The 17-year-old amateur was four shots back of the lead after the morning wave, a sharp start for a player making his major championship debut.
Miles Russell at Shinnecock Hills
Russell made one birdie and finished with 14 pars, three bogeys and a round he graded as “A.” He said nerves hit him on No. 1, then settled into the kind of game he wanted all week: boring golf, fairways and keeping the ball in play.
“it’s hard not to smile when you’re playing in the U.S. Open at 17,” he said after the round. He also said, “that’s what you practice for.”
Brooks Koepka, Adam Scott and Padraig Harrington
The field around him made the opening round harder to ignore. The U.S. Open is 131 years old, and Russell was one of 20 amateur golfers in the event, a record for the championship. He was also the youngest player in the field, lining up against proven names such as Brooks Koepka, Adam Scott and Padraig Harrington.
Russell got there through a playoff in final qualifying last week. Before Thursday, he had already played on the U.S. national junior team, become the youngest player ever to make a cut on the Korn Ferry Tour and moved into the top 10 in the world amateur golf rankings.
Charlie Woods and Florida State University
There was another layer to the week. Charlie Woods caddied for Russell at final qualifying, and both are set to play for Florida State University. That link gave the U.S. Open debut a tighter circle than most first appearances.
Padraig Harrington said Russell “hit it dead straight all day” and “probably could have been a couple better.” Russell said the wind forced him to keep greens and putts simple, then he added that it “could be a few shots better, for sure.”
For now, the score left him inside the story line he wanted: a 17-year-old in his first major, still in the mix after one round. Can Miles Russell keep that position through the rest of the U.S. Open?
