Miles Russell arrives at the U.S. Open as the youngest player in the field, and his age is only part of why his debut is drawing so much attention. The 17-year-old Florida State commit is preparing for his first major championship at Shinnecock Hills.
What really stopped people in their tracks was the way Russell answered a simple question about his earliest golf memories. In a press conference ahead of the tournament, he said he does not really remember watching U.S. Opens when he was little and pointed to memories of Jordan Spieth at the 2015 Masters and Tiger Woods in 2019.
A generation gap on display
Russell was asked whether he remembered the 2018 U.S. Open, the last time the event was held at Shinnecock. He said, “Maybe bits and pieces, but that’s probably more from seeing highlights from it. I don’t know. I don’t really remember watching any U.S. Opens when I was that little.”
He added, “I think my first kind of golf memory from watching it was maybe Spieth in 2015 at the Masters. I think really remembering it was Tiger in 2019.”
That comment landed hard because Russell was born in 2008, making his timeline of golf memories a reminder of just how young the sport’s next wave really is. For older fans, it was a blunt marker of how much time has passed since the biggest names of the recent era were first shaping his childhood.
How Russell reached the U.S. Open
Russell earned his place in the championship by advancing through final qualifying in a three-man playoff for two spots. Charlie Woods, Tiger Woods’ son, caddied for him during that qualifier, and both players have committed to Florida State for college golf.
The teenager has already shown that he can handle elite company. In 2024, Russell became the youngest player in Korn Ferry Tour history to make the cut in a tournament, and he finished tied for 20th.
FOX News reported that Russell’s rise has made him one of the most closely watched players heading into the week at Shinnecock Hills. His age, his qualifying run and his surprisingly short list of early golf memories have combined to make his debut one of the most talked-about stories in the field.
