Sam Bairstow will tee it up in the 125th US Open at Oakmont having earned one of the eight places available at Final Qualifying at Walton Heath.
Sheffield-based Sam, who qualified for the 2024 US Open through the same event, repeated that feat after a crucial birdie at the 36th hole saw him move to eight under-par and avoid the playoff for the final spots in the third men’s major of the season.
Meanwhile, two-time DP World Tour winner Jordan Smith led the field with rounds of 64 and 70 to reach 10 under-par after 36 holes at the Surrey venue as each competitor played one round on each of the Old and New courses. He will make his third US Open appearance at Oakmont Country Club from June 12-15.
The Englishmen will be joined by four-time DP World Tour winner Guido Migliozzi – who finished T4 in the US Open at Torrey Pines in 2021 – as well as Frenchman Frederic Lacroix and Swede Joakim Lagergren.
Following extra holes for six players tied on seven under-par, the three remaining places were secured by Ryder Cup vice-captain Edoardo Molinari, South African Jacques Kruyswijk, and Andrea Pavan from Italy.
Matthew Jordan, who has Northern Golfer columnist Chris Simmons on the bag, claimed an alternate spot having been part of the playoff, as did South African Robin Williams.
Leading qualifier Jordan said: “I’m really, really happy. I am really looking forward to that week. I have heard that it is going to be absolutely brutal, they don’t want any under par scores winning so it’s going to be good fun, a good test and I’m just really happy with how I played today and how the game helped me out.
“I have been playing good for the last couple of months. It was all sort of getting it together on the right week. It was probably one of my best putting displays for a long time today so that always helps but I did feel confident coming into the day.
“I can’t remember anything about 2016 [when Oakmont last hosted the US Open] because my memory is terrible. I am going to try and get there fairly early, have a couple of practice rounds because it is going to be tricked up with the rough and you are going to need to know where to miss if you do end up in the rough, and there will probably be some slick putts. I am just really looking forward to it.”
