Columbus, Ohio
And the 50-year-old Stricker did it in style.
More than just earning one of the nine spots in the Tennessee qualifier, Stricker closed with a wedge to tap-in birdie range to cap off a 67-65 day and finish first among the nine qualifiers.
“It means a lot,” Stricker said. “It’s been at the forefront of my thinking for a while now. It’s kind of a relief knowing I got in on my own terms. I went through qualifying. I’d rather have it that way. I’m glad I did it this way.”
Nine other qualifiers were taking place around the country. Most of the PGA Tour players were in Ohio, where it was delayed two hours because of rain.
Playing in one of two qualifiers in the Columbus area, Woodstock native Keegan Bradley shot 65-69-134 to easily make the field for Erin Hills. Bradley finished in a four-way tie for third at Brookside and The Lakes, two shots behind J.T. Poston.
Bradley’s five-year exemption for winning the PGA Championship in 2011 expired last season. He didn’t qualify to play in April’s Masters, the first major he’s missed the 2011 British Open.
The U.S. Open starts June 15 at Erin Hills, a public course built on pristine pastureland in Wisconsin that only opened in 2006. Stricker was asked by the original owner, Bob Lang, and USGA executives to come along for a site visit to give a pro’s perspective. He knew he would be 50 when the U.S. Open came to Erin Hills. He never knew it would be such an ordeal getting there. But he made it, and it all felt right.
Stewart Cink joined Bradley among the 14 qualifiers at Lakes and Brookside. Former U.S. Amateur champion Bryson DeChambeau also got in.
In other qualifiers:
Joaquin Niemann of Chile, the No. 1 amateur in the world, birdied the last hole to get into a playoff and beat Eugene Hong to earn the final spot in Florida. Also getting through was Jack Maguire and Tyson Alexander, the son of retired Florida golf coach Buddy Alexander.
Alex Smalley and Stephan Jaeger, the German who once shot 58 on the Web.com Tour, earned the two spots from Georgia. The first alternate from that sectional was Davis Love IV. His father, the former PGA champion and two-time Ryder Cup captain, failed to earn his spot in Columbus.
Sam Ryder opened with a 62 at Wood mont Country Club and easily earned one of three spots in the Maryland qualifier.
Two-time PGA Tour winner Daniel Chopra led the qualifier in New Jersey, where amateur Chris Crawford made it into the U.S. Open for the second straight year, both times by going through 18 holes of local qualifying and the 36-hole sectional qualifying.
— In the other Ohio qualifier, Ryan Brehm birdied his last two holes for a 63 to earn the last of four spots without having to go to a playoff. Canadian Corey Conners was the medalist after opening with a 61 at Springfield Country Club.
— The Tennessee qualifier also had several PGA Tour players ahead of this week’s FedEx St. Jude Classic. Those who joined Stricker in getting through included Harris English and Andres Romero. At least five players would battle in a playoff for the last two spots.
— Nick Flanagan will be in his second straight U.S. Open, last year as a caddie and now as a player. The former U.S. Amateur champion earned one of three spots in Texas. A year ago, Flanagan returned to Oakmont to caddie for fellow Aussie Aron Price.
Still to be determined were qualifiers in California and Washington and Texas, where playoffs were required to determine the final spots.
When the Columbus and Tennessee playoffs are completed Tuesday morning, that will make 150 players in the field. The USGA has set aside six spots for anyone who cracks the top 60 in the world ranking after this week.