By Harrison Ott, Wisconsin Native and 2025 U.S. Open Qualifier
The story of how I got into this year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont really started on my 32nd hole of Final Qualifying in Columbus, Ohio. I believed I needed to get to 8-under total to qualify, and at that point, I was 6-under on the day. The 14th hole was a short par-4 with a very tough pin. I hooked my 3-wood left off the tee and had to play it safe with my second shot. I ended up hitting a solid shot to about 35 feet. Thinking I needed two birdies, I hit an aggressive putt that caught the left lip and just missed.
No worries, though – 15 and 16 were relatively easy holes from the fairway before the tougher 17th and 18th. I hit the fairway on 15 and knocked my wedge to about 12 feet. Once again, I caught the left lip and tapped in for par. That’s when it hit me – I only had three holes left!
Suddenly, I shifted gears to try to give myself an eagle look on the reachable par-5 16th or at least a stress-free birdie. From the fairway, I hit my hybrid just short of the green and left myself in a manageable spot to get up and down. I hit an average chip to about 7 feet but ran the putt through the break. Now I thought I needed to birdie the final two holes.
The 17th was a 200-yard par-3 with water about eight yards right of the pin and a deep bunker just four yards left. My tee shot flirted with the left bunker but ended up leaving me with a 12-foot downhill slider. I asked my caddie if I needed to make it or just cozy it up. He said, “We just gotta keep doing what we’re doing.” I didn’t love that answer, but I figured I should give it a good run with the right pace. I walked off with a tap-in par – disappointed, but hopeful.
On 18, I hit the fairway and had about 165 yards in. I stuck it to about 10 feet above the hole. I asked my caddie for specifics on where I stood on the leaderboard. When he told me I just needed to make par, I replied, “Trevor, I want to be sure. A par doesn’t put me in a playoff? And you’re sure my score is correct online? I’m -6 total.” He told me to check the scores myself – and that’s when it sank in. A two-putt would get me into the U.S. Open.
I made a tap-in par, and then the emotion started to creep in. It honestly didn’t hit me fully until after the U.S. Open that I had qualified over players like Max Homa, Rickie Fowler, Cameron Young, and Matt Kuchar. It’s an incredible confidence booster, and something I’ll always look back on with pride.
After Final Qualifying, my focus shifted immediately to travel and planning. Tuesday and Wednesday were spent recovering, coordinating logistics, and gathering as much information as I could about Oakmont and U.S. Open week from past participants. I was advised to play a practice round with high-level players and that the course would play easier from Monday to Thursday – two excellent pieces of advice.
I prepared hard Monday through Wednesday, and the course was tough. By the time my coach, David Roesch, and a few friends flew in midweek, I had a much better handle on the rough and had finalized my game plan. Having David there was a huge help with prep, and the presence of family and friends brought a comforting sense of normalcy.
My dad and golf buddies were already onsite, but on Wednesday night, my wife Grace, her dad, my mom, sister, aunts, and uncle all flew in – my full support system was finally assembled. I hadn’t anticipated how difficult it would be to spend time with them amid the crowds, but every night I got a little emotional thinking about how far they’d traveled on short notice just to be there for me.
Despite missing the cut, it was hands down the best golf experience of my life so far. Having my family and friends there made it even more special. It reminded me of what I love most about Wisconsin – a close-knit community that truly values and celebrates the accomplishments of its own.
