Miles Russell, 17, is 2nd-youngest man to make U.S. Open cut since World War II

SOUTHAMPTON, New York — Miles Russell, at 17 the youngest player at the U.S. Open, just wanted to see how his game measured up to the best in the world.

Well, he’s tied for 48th at 3 over with the likes of Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson. He will play the weekend, unlike Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm.

Russell, from Jacksonville Beach, Florida, is the second-youngest man to make a U.S. Open cut since World War II.

Miles Russell will see the weekend.

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Not bad for a 17-year-old in his U.S. Open debut! pic.twitter.com/VewLh8I1Ls

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 19, 2026

Only Beau Hossler, who was a younger 17 in 2012, has Russell beat in the age department.

Russell opened with a 2-over 72 on Thursday. Then on Friday, he briefly climbed into the top 15 with two birdies in his first six holes. He hung on to make the cut despite three bogeys on the back nine.

He played with the oldest man in the field — 54-year-old U.S. Senior Open champion Padraig Harrington. Russell was in the womb when Harrington won his last two majors in 2008.

“He played lovely golf, looked like he could hit it down a rope,” Harrington said Thursday. “I think he wants narrower fairways, if you ask me.”

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Already this year, Russell made his first PGA Tour cut — tying for 50th at the Puerto Rico Open in March. He also made two of three cuts on the Korn Ferry Tour, two years after becoming the youngest player to make a cut on that circuit.

On June 8, Russell qualified for the U.S. Open on his 38th hole of the day via playoff. His caddie that day — Charlie Woods, Tiger’s son who is, like Russell, committed to play for Florida State.

MAJOR MILES RUSSELL

The 17-year-old is @USOpenGolf bound for the first time after 38 holes on Golf’s Longest Day alongside caddy Charlie Woods pic.twitter.com/kCA75CuBjd

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 9, 2026

Russell’s caddie this week is his coach, Ramon Bescansa, who caddied for Russell Knox the last time Shinnecock hosted in 2018.

Russell was given his own pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday.

His responses reminded all of the journalists, many old enough to be his parent, just how old they are.

Such as saying his first vivid golf-watching memory was Tiger Woods winning the Masters … in 2019.

He said he would treat his major championship debut as if it was an American Junior Golf Association tournament.

“Still it hasn’t really hit me like, man, this is what I want to do when I’m older,” Russell said Wednesday. “I just love playing the game. It’s a good challenge, and I like a good challenge.”

So far, he’s up for that challenge at Shinnecock.

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