Graeme McDowell remains in with a chance of joining Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy at Oakmont for the US Open in just under a fortnight’s time as the Final Qualifier at Florida’s Emerald Dunes was suspended for poor weather.
With eight holes left to complete, the 2010 US Open champion sits on -4 overall having opened with a two-under in a stop-start day in West Palm Beach, and he’s three shots shy of the provisional cut mark in a share of 15th with just four Qualifying places on offer.
Notable names currently on course to qualify are 18-year-old sensation Blades Brown and Luke Poulter, University of Florida student and son of Ian, with Nicolai Højgaard also in contention.
Séamus Power’s day came to a premature end at Lambton Golf Club in Ontario, Canada. The Waterford man carded a two-over 72 in round one, leaving him five shots outside of the qualifying mark but withdrew before round two.
Tom McKibbin carded matching one-over 71s at Duke University in North Carolina to come up five shots shy, but it was Pádraig Harrington who came closest.
Competing at Kinsale Golf Club in Colombus, Ohio, the 53-year-old shot a two-over 74 in round one but responded with an excellent six-under 66 in round two. Despite carding the lowest second-round score in the entire field, it proved to be one stroke too many as he missed out on a playoff for the sixth and final spot by one shot.
In a stacked field, it was Erik van Rooyen who topped the leaderboard with an incredible 13-under tally to finish six clear of fellow PGA Tour players Bud Cauley, Justin Lower and Lanto Griffin, while Cameron Young defeated Max Homa, Rickie Fowler, Eric Cole, and Chase Johnson in a five-for-one playoff for the final place.
The story of the day was probably that of Matt Vogt, a dentist, who was one of two players to secure their places in Walla Walla, Washington. Vogt grew up in Pittsburg and caddied at Oakmont, and after matching rounds of 68 gave him top spot at Walla Walla, he’s set for an emotional homecoming.
“Oakmont, and Pittsburgh, and everything there means so much to me, having grown up in Pittsburgh and caddying there,” Vogt said in an interview with Golf Channel after his win. “It took every ounce of energy in my body to not think about that all day.
“I’m just so proud of staying present and staying in the moment. I feel like I’m going to wake up from a dream here in a little while and this isn’t going to be real. But it’s real and I’m so excited.”
Vogt’s father passed away two months ago, but he felt his presence with him on the course on Monday.
“When I was starting to play golf again and take this seriously, he was the one guy who was tracking me,” Vogt told Golf Channel. “… I knew he was tracking me today. I was looking up to the skies and I know he’s with me and he’ll always be with me. I wish he was here to share it, but I know he’s watching.”
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