Mitchell Makes History At US Open

It was an Okie St. Cowboy-turned-Oregon Duck that hoisted the trophy Sunday evening, but we still had Bulldog representation sprinkled across the Long Island leaderboard.

Yes, Wyndham Clark held onto the lead and held off LSU Tiger Sam Burns to claim the third major of 2026. It was really an opening 64 in blustery conditions that won him the title, but it was validated by great recovery shots, sick scrambling, and a pretty hot putter to complete the wire-to-wire win.

In tough but fair conditions, only 6 players finished at even par or better. Many big names didn’t make the cut including Bryson Dechambeau, Viktor Hovland, Adam Scott, Brooks Koepka, and defending champ JJ Spaun. Unfortunately that claimed the weekends of former Bulldogs. With the cut line of +4 (144), Harris English missed it by one; Sepp Straka by 3; Chris Kirk by 5, and Davis Thompson by 6. It also quenched young dreams of amateurs and future Bulldogs Mason Howell (+8) and Hamilton Coleman (+11).

Somehow I missed Coleman’s Open qualification, but he won the 2025 US Junior Amateur last summer which gained him an invitation. Coleman is an Augusta native, playing for Lakeside-Evans and capturing the State 6A title in 2024 as a sophomore. His golf game and Sigma Nu pledge class worthy name will serve him well in Athens.

Now for the former ‘Dawgs who were in the top 72 and did play the weekend at the 126th US Open at Shinnecock.

Russell Henley was top 20 after an opening even par 70, and started the weekend at +3 with a chance to make a move. A third round 80 derailed that, and a closing 71 gave him a T65 finish.

Brian Harman was first page of the leaderboard Friday morning and borderline Friday night. But weekend rounds of 73-73 never let him gain ground and he ties for 32nd.

But Keith Mitchell gave us a Cashmere Keith Experience for the ages.

That was Mitchell’s Thursday opening round. Even par 70? That’s not the interesting part. He doubled his first hole of the tournament en route to a 41 for 9 holes. +6 after 9 probably shoots you out of contention. But Keith is a ‘Dawg, so he comes back and shoots 29 for his inward nine and a total of 70 that makes you look meme-worthy. He is the first player in US Open history to shoot a 9 hole score in the 40’s and a 9 hole score in the 20’s in a single round. History made.

It was obvious he didn’t have his “A” game, but it was also obvious he could golf his ball around and get it in the hole. The final 3 rounds he proceeds to shoot 70-70-70 for a total of 280. Even par for the tournament, and even par in every single round. Also the first player to accomplish that in a US Open. It was good for a tie for 4th place, $920,882 dollars, and invite to the 2027 Masters and US Open.

It might not go down as one of the most exciting US Opens, but it was played in a truly great venue, it constantly humbled the best players in the world, and we had plenty of Red and Black to keep an eye on. I hope you had as good of a Father’s Day as I did, and as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!