Ah, Walton Heathโwhere the heather is lush, the bunkers are bottomless, and the pressure? It’s as thick as the fog that rolls in over the Surrey hills.
This week, it wasn’t just the sheep that were feeling a bit nervous as nine players earned their way into the 124th U.S. Open.
Let’s start with the medallistsโGrant Forrest, Richard Mansell, and Brandon Robinson-Thompson.
These lads shared top honours, each posting a blistering ten under par after two gruelling rounds on both the Old and New Courses.
Itโs the kind of performance that makes you wonder if they’ve been sneaking in extra putting practice under the moonlight.
A Tale of Three Medallists
First up, Brandon Robinson-Thompson. The name might be a mouthful, but his game was nothing short of stellar.
This chap, who now calls the U.S. home and used to call South Carolina his stomping grounds, fired a first-round 68 and followed it up with a dazzling six-under 66.
It seems like just yesterday he was making his Major debut at Hoylake, and now heโs bound for Pinehurst.
If he keeps this up, they’ll be naming pubs after him on both sides of the Atlantic.
Richard Mansell, no stranger to U.S. Open nerves after his debut in 2022, matched Robinson-Thompsonโs score with his own ten-under par.
Itโs a testament to his grit and determinationโqualities you’d expect from a lad who looks like he could wrestle a bear and still sink a 30-footer.
And letโs not forget Scotlandโs Grant Forrest. This will be his first U.S. Open, and if his play at Walton Heath is any indication, heโs going to be a force to be reckoned with.
Forrest is the kind of player who makes you believe in fairy tales, or at least in the kind of fairy tales that come with a hefty paycheck and a shiny trophy.
The Comeback Kid
Robert Rock. If that name doesnโt conjure up images of a swashbuckling hero, his performance surely does.
Rock stepped back from the DP World Tour after the 2022 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and what a return it wasโrounds of 69 and 66 put him at nine under par. Itโs the kind of comeback that would make Lazarus jealous.
Joining him at nine under was Sam Bairstow, who held his nerve to sink a seven-footer for par on the 36th hole, signing off with rounds of 68-67.
Bairstow avoided a playoff with that clutch putt, and probably aged a few years in the process.
The Nervous Wait
Four more golfers had to endure the torturous wait at eight under par: Matteo Manassero and Edoardo Molinari from Italy, Northern Irelandโs Tom McKibbin, and Australian Jason Scrivener.
Itโs the kind of wait that makes you wish for a stiff drink and a comfy chair, but they all held on to punch their tickets to Pinehurst.
Playoff Drama
And whatโs a qualifier without a bit of playoff drama? Five players tied at seven under par fought for the two alternate spots.
After four excruciating extra holes, Casey Jarvis and Andrea Pavan emerged victorious.
They didnโt get the golden ticket, but being an alternate at the U.S. Open isnโt exactly a bad consolation prize.
The Road to Pinehurst
So there you have it, folks. Nine golfers have secured their spots in one of golfโs greatest arenas, ready to take on the challenge of Pinehurst.
From the first-time thrill-seekers like Forrest to seasoned campaigners like Mansell and the comeback king Rock, this year’s U.S. Open is shaping up to be a blockbuster.
Get your popcorn ready; itโs going to be a wild ride.
