US Open qualifying: LIV’s Carlos Ortiz wins six-hole playoff, Jaden Soong, Michael Block miss out
LIV Golf rebel Carlos Ortiz snuck into the US Open after qualifying on the sixth hole of a playoff Monday.
Golf’s Longest Day took place Monday with golfers from the United States and Canada competing for a place in the US Open at the Los Angeles Country Club on June 15 over 36 holes.
Ortiz, who had jumped to the Saudi Arabian backed LIV, wanted to fight his way to the big championship the old fashioned way and just succeeded.
The Mexican was three down on the day with three holes to go, but bogeyed on his 16th hole of his second round. to fall back to a tie at two under.
He parred his last two holes and sent the qualifier to a three-on-one playoff with Wesley Bryan and Luis Gagne.
LIV Golf rebel Carlos Ortiz sneaked into the US Open after qualifying on the sixth hole of a playoff
The winner of the 2020 Houston Open sealed their place in the US Open just before they lost the sunlight at Florida’s Pine Tree Golf Club, eventually winning with a birdie on the sixth extra frame.
Ortiz was joined by Sebastian Munoz, who played at Maryland, as the only LIV defectors to qualify on Monday.
Three others – Matt Jones, Cameron Tringale and David Puig – played the qualifier in Los Angeles, while Matthew Wolff withdrew.
Meanwhile, a replay of the PGA Championship’s Block Party was not planned. Club pro Michael Block, who stole fans’ hearts at Oak Hill with his tied 15 finish, and his 18-year-old son Dylan failed to make it a family affair at the third major of the year.
Michael just fell short in his bid to qualify for next week’s US Open. The 46-year-old, who this week tried his luck at Lambton Golf & Country Club in Toronto ahead of the Canadian Open, shot a 36-hole score of 5-under 135.
He finished in sixth place, 2 shots into third with 27 players battling for three places in Lambton.
Medalist Ryan Gerard (11-bottom), Vincent Norman (eight-bottom) and Ryan Armor (seven-bottom) took the three qualifying spots at the venue.
Michael teaches at the public Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, California and was originally believed to compete in qualifier at Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles with his son.
PGA Championship hero Michael Block was about to take his place in Toronto
The 46-year-old played in Toronto after receiving a sponsorship invitation to the RBC Canadian Open
His 18-year-old son Dylan (left) competed at Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles
However, following his Cinderella story at the US PGA, he received a sponsorship invitation to the RBC Canadian Open, meaning he moved his qualifying venue to Toronto in preparation for this weekend’s event.
Dylan also failed to ensure that the Block family name would be represented at LACC. The youngster finished tied for 76 with a combined score of ten left over Hillcrest.
Also at Hillcrest, another teenager made a bid to become the youngest ever to qualify for the US Open. 13-year-old Jaden Soong also competed at Hillcrest but missed the cut.
The record is held by Andy Zhang, who was 14 when he competed in the 2012 US Open at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.
Elsewhere, less than 24 hours after shaking hands with Jack Niklaus after winning the Memorial Tournament, Viktor Hovland was seen back on the course – this time as a caddy.
But the Memorial champ couldn’t hand over his winning streak to his friend.
Former Oklahoma State golfer Zach Bauchou shot 148 in front of a sizable gallery, pulled in by his caddy.
13-year-old seventh grader Jaden Soong failed to become the youngest to qualify
Viktor Hovland (L) was spotted manning the bag of former college teammate Zach Bauchou (R)
Bauchou and Hovland were teammates on OSU’s 2018 national championship squad.
According to Golf Digest, when asked if Bauchou paid him well, Hovland, who made $3.6 million on Sunday, grinned and replied, “not enough.”
Stewart Cink, 50, hit five birdies over six holes at Brookside Golf & Country Club to become one of 11 players to earn a spot in the qualifier in Columbus, Ohio.
“I just love playing in majors,” says Cink, a former British Open champion. ‘I’m a one trick pony and you can’t be a one trick pony if you can’t do your trick. I will keep trying to qualify forever.”
After qualification, the US Open field will stand at 150 players. The USGA reserves six spots for players who move into the top 60 on Sunday – such as Adam Schenk – and if the Canadian Open winner takes his second PGA Tour victory since the last US Open.