Padraig Harrington’s US Open Dreams Take a Hit
Padraig Harrington’s US Open qualifying chances looking slim after a rollercoaster of a day in Columbus, Ohio. The Irish golf legend came painfully close but will likely miss out on securing a spot at this year’s US Open, despite a strong final round performance.
Playing at the Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club, Harrington started his 36-hole qualifier with a disappointing two-over-par 74. That first round left him way off the pace with only six qualifying spots available.
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A Brilliant Comeback Falls Just Short
Still, Harrington wasn’t giving up without a fight. He came out swinging in the second round, catching fire early. Birdies on the 3rd and 4th holes gave him momentum, and then he caught a hot streak with three birdies in a row on the 7th, 8th, and 9th holes. Another on the 11th had him at four-under-par overall and suddenly tied for sixth right in the mix for a potential playoff.
But the magic faded down the stretch. A bogey on the 17th proved costly, knocking him out of contention. He managed to birdie the final hole, wrapping up the day at four-under, tied for 11th. With six players already in at five-under or better, Harrington’s hopes are all but dashed.
Big Names and Tight Margins
Erik Van Rooyen was the standout, comfortably qualifying at 13-under. A group of stars including Cameron Young, Max Homa, and Rickie Fowler also locked in their spots at five-under-par.
Harrington, who last played in the US Open in 2023 after winning the US Senior Open the year before, had been hoping for a return. His best finish in the tournament came in 2012, when he tied for fourth at the Olympic Club.
Other Irish Hopefuls Struggle Too
Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open champ, is still in the hunt in Florida but trails by three shots with play continuing Tuesday after weather delays. Seamus Power withdrew after a poor first round in Canada, while Tom McKibbin missed the cut in North Carolina. Young amateur Patrick Keeling also missed out in Ohio, finishing at +6.
New Faces Set to Make Their Mark
One bright spot came from England’s Tyler Weaver, who will make his US Open debut after shooting 11-under to earn a spot in Atlanta. Matt Wallace also made it through, qualifying with a solid seven-under in Ontario.
