BROOKLINE, Mass. – World top-five gamers Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas had been all amongst these to interrupt par in Thursday’s opening spherical of the U.S. Open. Adam Hadwin shot 4-under 66 within the afternoon to take the solo lead.
Scattered throughout the primary web page of the leaderboard at The Nation Membership, although, are some lesser-known names who haven’t jockeyed for a PGA TOUR title in fairly a while, if in any respect.
It’s a part of the U.S. Open’s mystique, because the world’s elite compete on the identical taking part in area as dozens who earned their tee occasions through 36-hole Last Qualifying. The Nation Membership, in spite of everything, is the place 20-year-old newbie Francis Ouimet beat British stalwarts Harry Vardon and Ted Ray on the 1913 U.S. Open.
Right here’s a take a look at 4 lesser-known names within the combine after Thursday’s opening spherical.
MJ Daffue (3-under 67)
The South African met two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen when he was in center faculty, and the 2 stay shut.
Now after making a late determination to try U.S. Open qualifying because of crossing the fail-safe factors threshold to safe his first PGA TOUR card through the Korn Ferry Tour, Daffue (appears like Duffy) is on the leaderboard at The Nation Membership.
He performed collegiately at Lamar College, turned professional in 2012, and after a sequence of agonizing misses at Second Stage of Q-Faculty, he earned assured Korn Ferry Tour begins for the primary time through Last Stage Q-Faculty final fall.
Cash has been tight at occasions for the 33-year-old, who has admittedly battled melancholy amidst job uncertainty and loss – in 2013, his now-wife Kamie’s mother Jill tragically handed away after tripping on a avenue nook and being struck by a automobile.
“My life is actually good,” Daffue mentioned after the opening spherical. “I’ve a fantastic household, and all people is wholesome, and I believe simply being grateful for issues has actually given me a step again, and looking out from the surface in … ultimately, that is only a recreation.
“We’re taking part in in opposition to the perfect on the earth,” he added, “and that is only a privilege to be right here.”
Callum Tarren (3-under 67)
The Englishman performed collegiately at Radford College in Virginia and bounced round on numerous smaller excursions earlier than incomes Korn Ferry Tour standing through the No. 1 spot on the 2018 PGA TOUR China Order of Advantage. He returned to Korn Ferry Tour Q-Faculty in 2019, the place after shedding his swing throughout a 7-over 42 on the second 9 of his opening spherical, he carded a final-round 65 to earn assured begins on the quantity.
After lacking the minimize on the 2021 Korn Ferry Tour Common Season-ending Pinnacle Financial institution Championship final August, Tarren flew house for the beginning of his first baby, daughter Sofia. He made it simply in time, spent a pair days at house in England, and flew again to the U.S. for the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, the place he secured his PGA TOUR card.
He secured his spot at The Nation Membership through Last Qualifying in Toronto, the place he performed in a twosome with Brandon Hagy. They accomplished the second spherical in 2 hours, 55 minutes, returning Tarren to a consolation zone of taking part in speedy rounds as a child. His golf equipment arrived in Boston a day late, however primarily based on his early returns at Brookline, he wasn’t fazed.
“I’m sort of pinching myself,” mentioned Tarren upon realizing he shared the U.S. Open lead via the morning wave Thursday. “Simply excited with my begin, and let’s see what the following few days maintain.”
