At just 17, Miles Russell did something only one other teenager has done since WWII. He made the cut at the 2026 U.S. Open, and only Beau Hossler, who was slightly younger in 2012, has done it earlier in life.

Russell, the top-ranked junior golfer in the country, made the cut at this week's U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. He is also the youngest player competing in the 156-player field. 

Golf analyst Justin Ray confirmed the milestone on X: "At 17 years, 7 months, 11 days old, Miles Russell is the second-youngest player since World War II to make the cut at the U.S. Open. Only Beau Hossler in 2012 (17 years, 3 months) was younger."

This achievement is impressive because very few teenagers make the cut at the U.S. Open against a field of 156 of the world's best golfers. Doing it at Shinnecock Hills, a course known for its tough conditions and strong winds, makes it even more remarkable. 

Russell earned his spot in the U.S. Open on June 8 after getting through a tough 38-hole playoff. Charlie Woods carried Russell's bag during the qualifier, and both are set to play college golf at Florida State University.

He already has experience against PGA Tour competition. Russell earned a tie for 50th place at the Puerto Rico Open in March, becoming a PGA Tour player to make a cut for the first time in his career. He has also made the cut in two of his three Korn Ferry Tour starts, continuing the progress he showed when he became the youngest player ever to make a cut on that tour two years ago. 

The history he made this week is only part of his story so far this year.

Professional golfers Russell has crossed paths with this year

Russell opened with a two-over round that drew praise from his unlikely first-round playing partner, 54-year-old Padraig Harrington, the U.S. Senior Open champion and oldest player in the field. 

"He played lovely," Harrington said. "Two over par was the worst he could have shot. He hit it dead straight all day. Didn't really have himself in too much trouble at all. Probably could have been a couple better."

Before the U.S. Open, Russell had already shared a range with Bryson DeChambeau. 

The LIV golfer has included Russell in a YouTube video that has received nearly three million views since December. 

"I was walking down the range the other day, and he was hitting balls," Russell said. "He stopped what he was doing, came over, and said hi and just chatted for a minute. It was pretty cool."

The other encounter carried more personal weight. As a kid, Russell watched Jordan Spieth on TV. This year, he got the chance to practice and hit balls alongside him.

"I looked up to him as a little guy," Russell said. "That's just really cool. I think it's probably even cooler for my parents."

Do you think Miles Russell has a future on the PGA Tour? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Ankita Yadav