Miles Russell and Jackson Koivun did not just survive a tough Saturday at Shinnecock Hills. They also gave the U.S. Open a glimpse of the game’s next generation.
The 17-year-old Russell and 21-year-old Koivun were paired together in the third round, a grouping TV coverage framed as the future of golf. Both men finished with 4-over-par 74s and moved to 7 over for the tournament, which was respectable on a windy day at one of the sport’s hardest tests.
A Pair Built Around Potential
Koivun is already preparing to turn professional after a standout college run at Auburn, where he helped win two national championships in three seasons. He also became the first freshman since Justin Thomas in 2012 to win the Haskins Award, given to the nation’s top collegiate golfer.
Russell, meanwhile, has not even started college yet. The left-hander is ranked No. 1 in the American Junior Golf Association and No. 7 among amateurs in the world, and he is headed to Florida State.
Russell will join a roster that already has a familiar name attached to his future. Charlie Woods, Tiger Woods’ son, will be his teammate, after carrying Russell’s bag when he earned his place in the U.S. Open through a 36-hole qualifier.
What They Said About the Hype
Koivun said he is trying not to get caught up in the attention.
“I mean, I’m trying not to think about that,” Koivun said. “Just taking it one day at a time and let my golf game do the talking, but those are great compliments.”
Russell had a similar reaction to the talk around them.
“I don’t know, that’s kind of crazy,” Russell said. “I mean, I think the main thing is just keep enjoying it, because if you’re not enjoying it, you may not have much of a future in it. So, I think we just keep doing what we’re doing, and see where it takes us.”
He added that golf is too unpredictable to assume anything from one strong stretch.
“Golf is a very difficult sport,” he said. “One day you have it and the next day it’s gone, so I think you just have to kind of block it out and just keep doing what you’re doing, and hopefully one day that’s true.”
Sunday Crowds and a Bigger Amateur Story
Even with early tee times, Russell said there was clear interest around their group.
“At the beginning, we had some good crowds out there,” Russell said. “I think if we might have played a little better, they might have stuck around a little longer, but it was cool.”
Koivun and Russell were also part of a larger amateur presence in the championship. They were two of five amateurs who made the cut, a group led by 21-year-old Ryder Cowan, who will be a senior at Oklahoma and was tied for 11th after 36 holes.
That broader showing only strengthened Koivun’s view of where the amateur game stands.
“Yeah, I mean, amateur golf is in a great spot right now,” Koivun said. “The college kids are definitely showing off, showing off how good they are, and for five of us to make it through, it’s quite impressive.”
For now, the third-round pairing gave fans a clear look at two players already producing on one of golf’s biggest stages, even before either has taken the full leap into the professional game.