Six spots remain in US Open field — at least three will go to alternates

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Adam Scott and Russell Knox were among those who made it through 36 holes of U.S. Open qualifying. The next order of business was to call the FedEx St. Jude classic and express their regrets.

Perhaps no alternate list is more volatile than the PGA Tour event the week of U.S. Open qualifying.

Scott's decision was easy. He had played five consecutive weeks on the PGA Tour before his qualifier. To play in Memphis, Tennessee, ahead of the U.S. Open would have meant seven straight weeks.

That's one reason Scott opted for a qualifier instead of trying to crack the top 60 after this week.

Ten players have withdrawn from Memphis, four of whom made it through qualifying — Scott, Knox, Patrick Rodgers and Ollie Schniederjans.

In turn, that has had an effect on the overall strength of field, which is likely to reduce the world ranking points to 36 for the winner. Only the AT&T Byron Nelson has offered fewer ranking points to the winner this year.

That's relevant because the top 60 in the world after this week, if not already eligible, get into the U.S. Open.

Emiliano Grillo, who finished third at Colonial, moved up to No. 50 this week and is a lock for Shinnecock Hills. According to a world ranking specialist who goes by "Nosferatu" on Twitter, Byeong Hun An at No. 56 is assured of staying in the top 60, so he will be at Shinnecock.

And with the field weak, only one other player in Memphis can crack the top 60 with a victory — Billy Horschel or James Hahn.

The USGA held back six spots in case anyone made it through the top 60, so it will have at least three and possibly four spots to award alternates. Which alternates? That remains the mystery. The USGA has a formula that it does not share publicly (only with players at the top of the list for planning purposes) to avoid confusion and endless criticism about which sectional site should be ranked ahead of the other.

MAHAN'S MOVE

Hunter Mahan is working his way out of a prolonged slump, and that includes U.S. Open qualifying. He was out of the mix quickly by opening with a 79, and while he's playing the St. Jude Classic this week, he still finished what he started. Mahan shot 74 in the afternoon.

Why keep going?

Mahan has played only once in the last five weeks.

"I wanted to keep playing, hit shots. Whatever I shoot is kind of irrelevant," he said. "It was to continue trying to improve."

There was only one other issue. Another player in his group already had withdrawn. Mahan was playing with Easton Paxton, who plays at North Carolina State. He shot 77 and also was out of it, though like most amateurs, he wanted to finish it out. For Mahan to leave would mean Paxton playing as a single behind a threesome.

"I did not want to do that to him," Mahan said. "I don't want to leave him hanging."

PIPE DREAM

Andrew Pranger's dream of playing the U.S. Open didn't last long, but it at least provided a memory.

Pranger is a financial adviser in the St. Louis area who recently won the Old Warson Cup as part of the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association. He was an alternate from local qualifying. Having never made it into sectional qualifying, he decided to drive six hours with his father to Columbus. They stopped along the way to play Moraine Country Club, where Byron Nelson won the 1945 PGA Championship.

"We got in last night, and I got to the course at 10 minutes to 6," Pranger said between rounds. "And then they came over and told me I was in."

And then it got even better.

He replaced Kyoung Heen Lee. He was in the last group Monday morning with Priyanshu Singh. The other member of their group was more familiar: Adam Scott, a Masters champion and former world No. 1.

Pranger's hopes of getting to Shinnecock were gone early with an 81, but the left-hander signed his card and was smiling.

"My first time into sectionals and I play with Adam Scott," he said. "He was so professional in everything he did."

FINAL WORD

"I look forward to getting my teeth kicked in." — Keegan Bradley, after qualifying to play in his seventh straight U.S. Open.

 

This article was written by Doug Ferguson from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.