Two of golf’s biggest names, Max Homa and Rickie Fowler, will miss next week’s US Open after losing a five-way playoff to Cameron Young in Columbus.
The American Ryder Cup stars were among the hundreds of hopefuls who took part in ‘golf’s longest day’, when players battle it out over 36 holes for the final spots at the US Open.
Monday marked the culmination of a qualification process that began back in April. The USGA accepted a record 10,202 entries for next week’s tournament at Oakmont.
Homa, Fowler and Young all competed at Kinsale in Columbus, Ohio. It was a packed field that also included three-time major champion Padraig Harrington, Alex Noren, Jake Knapp and Matt Kuchar.
There were six spots up for grabs and after 36 holes, five players were locked at five-under-par – Homa, Young, Fowler, Eric Cole and Chase Johnson.
They were chasing the final qualification spot and they faced off in a winner-takes-all playoff.
Two of golf’s biggest names, Max Homa and Rickie Fowler, will miss next week’s US Open
The two Ryder Cup stars lost a five-way playoff to Cameron Young in Columbus on Monday
Homa, a six-time winner on the PGA Tour, carried his own clubs during the final qualifier
It was Young who triumphed with a birdie on the first playoff hole, meaning the 28-year-old, ranked No 66 in the world, booked his place at Oakmont.
Fowler is a six-time winner on the PGA Tour who has also appeared in five Ryder Cups. Homa has also won six times on the PGA Tour and represented the USA against Europe.
But the 34-year-old has endured a miserable 2025 season, dropping to No 90 in the world rankings.
Homa finished in a tie for 12th at the Masters but he missed the cut in five consecutive tournaments between February and April.
On Monday in Columbus, the former world No 5 played without a caddy, carrying his own clubs around Kinsale. He had two putts on the 36th hole to reach the US Open but the ball would not drop.
