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Wyndham Clark watches his tee shot on the 15th hole during the final round of the Memorial golf tournament, Sunday, June 7, 2026, in Dublin, Ohio.<\/p>\n
Sue Ogrocki\/AP Photo\/Sue Ogrocki<\/p>\n
Bud Cauley, of the United States, poses with the trophy after winning the Canadian Open golf tournament in Caledon, Ontario, Sunday June 14, 2026. (Frank Gunn\/The Canadian Press via AP)<\/p>\n
Frank Gunn\/Frank Gunn\/The Canadian Press vi<\/p>\n
J.T. Poston poses with the trophy after winning the Memorial golf tournament, Sunday, June 7, 2026, in Dublin, Ohio.<\/p>\n
Sue Ogrocki\/AP Photo\/Sue Ogrocki<\/p>\n
Jackson Kouvin speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Open golf tournament at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., Monday, June 15, 2026.<\/p>\n
David J. Phillip\/AP Photo\/David J. Phillip<\/p>\n
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) \u2014 Jackson Koivun was so good at Auburn he already locked up a PGA Tour card after his sophomore season. He just didn’t think he was ready, regardless of results that suggested differently.<\/p>\n
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Koivun is in the U.S. Open for the second straight time \u2014 last year making it through a 36-hole qualifier, this year as the No. 1 amateur in the world. He had to stay an amateur to use the exemption for Shinnecock Hills. He makes his pro debut in two weeks at the John Deere Classic.<\/p>\n
If the last month wasn’t enough of a whirlwind \u2014 another NCAA title for Auburn, the decision to turn pro and get ready for the U.S. Open \u2014 imagine what last year was like. He clinched a tour card at the NCAAs through the PGA Tour University program for underclassmen.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had about a week to make that decision, and I just wasn\u2019t ready,\u201d Koivun said Monday when asked why he didn’t turn pro a year ago. \u201cAnd I\u2019m very happy I made that decision.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The game was never a question, and Koivun showed that after missing the cut at Oakmont. He tied for 11th in the John Deere Classic, tied for sixth at an opposite-field event in Kentucky, tied for fifth in the Wyndham Championship and then played in the final group at the Procore Championship, which Scottie Scheffler won in Napa, California.<\/p>\n \u201cI think my golf game was there,\u201d Koivun said. \u201cI just think I wasn\u2019t ready to leave college, and mentally just wasn\u2019t ready for the potential hardships and the travel and everything like that. But taking another year to really wrap my mind around that was good for me, and now I\u2019m definitely ready.\u201d<\/p>\n He’ll find out how much progress he has made in the U.S. Open. Oakmont and Shinnecock Hills have reputations of being among the toughest courses for golf’s toughest test.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n And then he’ll have around six starts on the PGA Tour to see what kind of progress he makes. He is assured a tour card through the 2027 season.<\/p>\n As for the hardships, Koivun said it was more adjustments from college. He won six times this year without facing constant travel, learning new courses or dealing with missed cuts.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, it\u2019s just finding acceptance in golf,\u201d he said. \u201cComing into any event, I\u2019m going to try to win it, but not pushing too hard and accepting that it\u2019s not a game where you win every week. So understanding that and getting that through the head and just keep on going.\u201d<\/p>\n Seven more added to the US Open field<\/p>\n J.T. Poston and Bud Cauley won the last two weeks on the PGA Tour, and that moved them well inside the top 60 in the world to be added to the field for the U.S. Open.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The USGA had set aside seven spots to account for players who could mathematically earn their way through exempt categories. The other five spots went to alternates from some of the 13 qualifying sites \u2014 Hennie Du Plessis, Bryan Lee, Harry Higgs, Spencer Tibbits and Jack Schoenberger.<\/p>\n Chandler Phillips previously made it as an alternate when Marco Penge withdrew.<\/p>\n The finally tally of this 156-man field shows only 68 players who had to go through 36-hole qualifying, a low number for a major that used to prefer half the field qualified.<\/p>\n Tibbits and Schoenberger were among 16 players who had to go through 18-hole and 36-hole qualifying. The addition of Schoenberger, who finished his senior year at Kentucky, gives the U.S. Open 21 amateurs in the field.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Wyndham Clark planning on a happier U.S. Open<\/p>\n Wyndham Clark has been in a better place this year, winning The CJ Cup Byron Nelson with a 60 in the final round, missing the playoff at the Memorial by one shot and contending briefly at the Canadian Open last week.<\/p>\n It was different a year ago, particularly at the U.S. Open. He missed the cut at Oakmont and got into trouble with the historic club for damaging his locker. The club banned him indefinitely until he fulfilled various obligations, starting with paying for the repairs.<\/p>\n Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, acknowledged his regrets about that moment when he won the Byron Nelson, and it surfaced again Monday at Shinnecock Hills.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cThat was a really challenging time and something I\u2019ve deeply regretted and feel awful that I did that,\u201d Clark said. \u201cBut there were so many good lessons in that that really taught me a bunch. I\u2019ve really come a long way, and I\u2019m excited for this year\u2019s Open for some redemption and to move forward and enjoy the challenges of Shinnecock and how great this place is and how amazing this championship is.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>
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