Miles Russell has extended his working vacation in the Hamptons by two days.
The 17-year-old Florida native overcame three bogeys on the front nine of the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, on Friday (his back nine) and, with a 1-over 71, made the cut in the U.S. Open at 3-over 143.
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Russell was tied for 48th when he finished around 7 p.m. The cut ended up at 4-over.
“It’s really special to get to play the weekend here … just in any tournament,” Russell said during his post-round news conference. “But making a major, my first one, it’s super-special and I’m looking forward to it.”
Russell had made one cut in five previous starts in PGA Tour events, tying for 50th in March at the Puerto Rico Open.
He’s also second among the 20 amateurs in the field, behind only Ryder Cowan (140, tied for 12th when Russell was done). Cowan and Russell both qualified for the Open from the Florida sectional on June 8 at the BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, making it in a three-for-two playoff.
Russell, who shot 72 in the first round, began his day at the 10th hole at Shinnecock and proceeded to shoot 2-under with no bogeys on the course’s second nine. Russell made a birdie putt of 16 feet, 2 inches at No. 12 and another of 14-7 at No. 15.
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He also drained a 16-foot par putt at the par-3 11th and got up and down for par on his last three holes on the side after missing each green in regulation.
Russell climbed as high as a tie for 13th on the leaderboard after his second birdie
After a par at No. 1, Russell bogeyed the par-3 second when he missed the green shot, pitched on and missed a 10-foot par-putt attempt. He missed a 7-foot par attempt at No. 4 after missing the green left, then parred his next two holes, missing birdie attempts of 12 feet.
He then averted a disastrous par-3 seventh. Russell’s tee shot missed the green on the right, and his chip was too strong, and rolled past the pin and into the bunker on the other side of the green. However, he blasted out to less than 3 feet and made the putt for bogey.
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He then hit the fairways at Nos. 8 and 9 and safely two-putted for the pars he needed to secure his spot on the weekend.
“I played okay today,” Russell said. “I played really well on the front side and maybe got a little loose there on the back side. Other than that, I feel like it was a great day.”
Russell hit nine of 14 fairways and 10 of 18 greens, and needed 28 putts.
For the tournament, he hit 20 of 28 fairways (71.4 percent) and 23 of 36 greens (63.8 percent), with 61 putts.
Russell beat playing partners Cameron Smith and Padraig Harrington over 36 holes. Smith shot 71―146 and Harrington 74―151. The two combine for three majors, 12 PGA Tour titles and 55 worldwide championships.
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Russell said playing with the two major champions enhanced his first two Open rounds.
“It’s been really cool watching Cam and Padraig,” Russell said. “Just the way they go about it. You’re learning things.”
Russell’s 36-hole score topped 11 past major champions, five of them past U.S. Open champions: Hideki Matsuayama (4-over), Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed (5-over), Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith (6-over), defending champion J.J. Spaun and Adam Scott (8-over), two-time Open champion Brooks Koepka (10-over), Harrington (11-over) and Graeme McDowell (12-over).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Miles Russell, 17, makes cut in first major start at US Open 2026
