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SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — One is barely old enough to drive a car. The other is just old enough to drink alcohol. Neither were born when Retief Goosen won here in 2004. But on Saturday at the 2026 U.S. Open, amateurs Miles Russell and Jackson Koivun shared a tee time during the third round at Shinnecock Hills.
They were standing on side of the tee box on the opening hole (Russell is a left-hander so positions on the left), as I watched them getting ready to take on the wind of Saturday morning and couldn’t believe just how young the pair were. Russell, the No. 1 ranked junior golfer in the world, is 17, Koivun, the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world, his elder at 21. Combined, they are the same age as Jason Day (38).
But this is the U.S. Open and both made the cut for the weekend at three over par. If there were nerves, they don’t show. Koivun dropped his ball down on the first tee, no tee, and hit a crisp 3-wood down the middle of the fairway.
With pro bags, college scorecard holders and high school faces, the pair strolled together on the front nine at Shinnecock, not talking a lot and already conducting themselves like professionals. Koivun is set to make his pro debut later this month, and has a PGA Tour card locked up through 2027.
His super power? Ask anyone that watched him play at Auburn the last three years and they’ll tell you it’s his putter. He showed it off early, holing a 20-footer for birdie on the fourth. However, 210-yard bunker shots are tricky, even for All-Americans. The 21-year-old topped his second shot on the sixth hole, barely trickling into a hazard and finishing the hole with a double bogey.
As both players stood on the tee at the infamous seventh hole, a lady in the crowd commented on Russell (only a junior in high school), gushing as she said, “he’s so cute.” The redan par 3 probably didn’t look as attractive to Russell, his shot landing in the middle of the green but released out some 50 feet from the hole.
The confidence of youth was on show on the ninth hole. Russell’s approach from the rough was barely a scorecard-width from the edge of the green, 60 feet from the pin. The members watching from the clubhouse no doubt expected the 17-year-old to do what they would, pull putter and pray your ball comes to rest near the hole. But this is a golfer many tab as a future superstar. Out came the sand wedge, a crisp strike followed but checked up, and Russell wasn’t able to save par. Maybe when the U.S. Open returns here in 2036, Russell, then 27, will opt for a different approach.
I left the pair to battle the elements on the back nine but did so knowing I’d no doubt see them again soon. Perhaps paired together at a Ryder Cup.
MORE GOLF DIGEST U.S. OPEN COVERAGE
U.S. Open 101: Answering all your frequently asked questions
How to watch the 2026 U.S. Open
Power Rankings: Every player in the U.S. Open field, ranked
Here’s the record prize money payout for each golfer at the U.S. Open
Video: Every hole at Shinnecock Hills
Why can't the USGA get Shinnecock Hills right? Our interactive guide explains
What’s a ‘good’ shot at Shinnecock? The difference between our editos and tour average
Breaking down Scottie Scheffler’s chances to complete the career Grand Slam
Every chip shot you’ll see at Shinnecock Hills, explained
Continue reading...
They were standing on side of the tee box on the opening hole (Russell is a left-hander so positions on the left), as I watched them getting ready to take on the wind of Saturday morning and couldn’t believe just how young the pair were. Russell, the No. 1 ranked junior golfer in the world, is 17, Koivun, the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world, his elder at 21. Combined, they are the same age as Jason Day (38).
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But this is the U.S. Open and both made the cut for the weekend at three over par. If there were nerves, they don’t show. Koivun dropped his ball down on the first tee, no tee, and hit a crisp 3-wood down the middle of the fairway.
With pro bags, college scorecard holders and high school faces, the pair strolled together on the front nine at Shinnecock, not talking a lot and already conducting themselves like professionals. Koivun is set to make his pro debut later this month, and has a PGA Tour card locked up through 2027.
His super power? Ask anyone that watched him play at Auburn the last three years and they’ll tell you it’s his putter. He showed it off early, holing a 20-footer for birdie on the fourth. However, 210-yard bunker shots are tricky, even for All-Americans. The 21-year-old topped his second shot on the sixth hole, barely trickling into a hazard and finishing the hole with a double bogey.
You must be registered for see images attach
As both players stood on the tee at the infamous seventh hole, a lady in the crowd commented on Russell (only a junior in high school), gushing as she said, “he’s so cute.” The redan par 3 probably didn’t look as attractive to Russell, his shot landing in the middle of the green but released out some 50 feet from the hole.
The confidence of youth was on show on the ninth hole. Russell’s approach from the rough was barely a scorecard-width from the edge of the green, 60 feet from the pin. The members watching from the clubhouse no doubt expected the 17-year-old to do what they would, pull putter and pray your ball comes to rest near the hole. But this is a golfer many tab as a future superstar. Out came the sand wedge, a crisp strike followed but checked up, and Russell wasn’t able to save par. Maybe when the U.S. Open returns here in 2036, Russell, then 27, will opt for a different approach.
You must be registered for see images attach
I left the pair to battle the elements on the back nine but did so knowing I’d no doubt see them again soon. Perhaps paired together at a Ryder Cup.
MORE GOLF DIGEST U.S. OPEN COVERAGE
U.S. Open 101: Answering all your frequently asked questions
How to watch the 2026 U.S. Open
Power Rankings: Every player in the U.S. Open field, ranked
Here’s the record prize money payout for each golfer at the U.S. Open
Video: Every hole at Shinnecock Hills
Why can't the USGA get Shinnecock Hills right? Our interactive guide explains
What’s a ‘good’ shot at Shinnecock? The difference between our editos and tour average
Breaking down Scottie Scheffler’s chances to complete the career Grand Slam
Every chip shot you’ll see at Shinnecock Hills, explained
Continue reading...
