10 famous professionals who failed to advance through the U.S. Open Final Qualifying Tournament

Josh Berhow
Rickie Fowler didn’t outperform the playoffs in the Columbus qualifiers.
Getty Images
In the past 24 hours, dreams have been realized and shattered in the U.S. Open.
A 17-year-old high school junior and a dentist are punching the U.S. open ticket, although several household names are not that lucky.
Take Max Homa for example, who needs to start two shots from 25 feet in the 36th (and last) hole of his qualifiers to earn a seat at the U.S. Open next week in Oakmont. Instead, he lost to Cameron Young and then lost another playoff that would make him an alternative.
The U.S. Open is likely to be the first time Homa has missed a major in six years, but he is just one of several tens of thousands of names that failed to qualify on Monday. Although some players, like Homa, still have a slim chance – this week the RC Canadian Open is still invited, which is the top 60 for OWGR – Here are a few notable names that failed to advance by failing to pass the final qualifying, which likely ends their 2025 public hopes for our 2025.
10 players (probably) can’t be seen in Oakmont
Luke Clanton
Clanton, 21, actually received a waiver for the U.S. Open by winning the 2024 Mark H. McCormack medal as the world’s top amateur, but he seized the invitation when he turned professional at the RBC Canadian Open this week, where he will make his debut in a professional pro. Clanton, who won four Florida juniors games this year, is now about to start a career that many think will be promising.
Max Homa splits up again with caddies, carrying his own bag at the U.S. Open
go through:
James Colgan
Rickie Fowler
Good news? Fowler tied for seventh in Sunday’s memorial, earning him a spot in the Open Championships at Royal Porthush this year. He has been in a stable season, and has also finished in the top 20 in three of his last four games, although he still has to compete in this year’s national championship. He lost the sixth and final qualifying playoff game with Homa 70-69, before losing again to a backup position in the playoffs (guaranteed by Chase Johnson and Eric Cole). Fowler plays every major in 2024, although it will be the second time he missed this season (he also missed the Masters).
Sergio Garcia
Garcia actually entered in one of the few final qualifiers that weren’t held on Monday, but he made a three-pointer for Bogey on the 36th hole in Dallas, Texas, which brought him to the final game in the May 19 qualifiers. While USGA still has the potential to offer him special waivers, it seems Garcia’s winning streak with 25 consecutive public appearances will end.
Adam Hardwin
Hadwin, who eliminated four positions from Columbus’ playoffs with a 72-71 record, missed his second-big major (and Masters) this year after all four games last season.
Padrag Harrington
Three-time minority champion Harrington finished the game 74-66 in the competitive Columbus qualifiers, meaning he will miss his second straight season of the Open.
Nicolai Hojgaard
Half of Hoygard twins Nicolai are those second rounds of West Palm Beach, Florida, who had to pause due to weather on Monday’s round. Hojgaard finished two playoffs with a 66-70 record of 66-70. The 24-year-old professional has played in the past seven majors.
Max Homa
Homa ended 69-70 in Columbus with a 69-70 record, which would end his 21-game winning streak in a row. Earlier this year, he tied for 60th in the PGA and ranked 12th in the Masters. He missed four of his five Opens.
Zach Johnson
The former Masters and Open Championship champion summed up two solid rounds in Atlanta (69-67), but still finished three shots in the last goal of five qualified positions. When he tied for eighth place in the Masters in April, he hadn’t competed in the U.S. Open since 2021.
Jake Knapp
Knapp won the Mexican Open in February 2024 and teamed up with Patty Tavatanakit to win the Grant Thornton invitational in December, but is not an exemption from the national championship. He shot 72-71 in Columbus.
Keith Mitchell
Mitchell’s was good on the tour (seven top 25 with only two layoffs), ranked 89th in the FedEx Cup and 54th in the FedEx Cup, but he still needs to qualify to get into Oakmont. He scored 72-68 in the final qualifiers held in Canada. Two years ago, he tied for 20th in the U.S. Open at LACC.
Josh Berhow
Golf.comEdit
As executive editor of Golf.com, Berhow handles the daily and long-term plans of one of the sport’s most read news and service sites. He spends most of his time writing, editing, planning and wondering if he will break the 80s. Prior to joining Golf.com in 2015, he worked in newspapers in Minnesota and Iowa. He graduated from Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minnesota and lives in the Twin City with his wife and two children. You can contact him at joshua_berhow@golf.com.



