Adam Scott among 2024 U.S. Open field, extending impressive major streak to 92 straight
The United States Golf Association finalized the 156-player field for the 2024 U.S. Open, which includes Australian Adam Scott.
Adam Scott is in the field for the 124th U.S. Open.
After losing in a playoff to fellow Australian Cam Davis in final qualifying in Springfield, Ohio, Scott received a last-minute exemption from the United States Golf Association (USGA).
The USGA invites the top 60 players from the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) to the U.S. Open. Scott, currently ranked 61st, earned an exemption because of the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the passing of Grayson Murray, who, as the 59th-ranked player, was removed from the list so that the USGA could determine the top 60 players.
Thus, Scott moved up one spot and will now compete in his 92nd straight major. The 2013 Masters champion has not missed a major since the 2001 U.S. Open, won by Retief Goosen at Southern Hills. To help put that in perspective, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler turned five years old just three days after that championship concluded.
Since then, Scott has competed in 23 straight U.S. Opens, with his best finish coming at Chambers Bay in 2015, when he tied for fourth. Jordan Spieth won his second straight major on the coast of Puget Sound that year.
As for Pinehurst, Scott’s best finish on No. 2 came in 2014, when he tied for ninth. He also tied for 28th in 2005.
So far this season, the Australian has recorded one top-10 finish, a tie for eighth at the WM Phoenix Open. Yet, he has recorded six top-25 finishes, although he did miss the cut at the PGA Championship.
Nevertheless, Scott’s impressive streak of 92 straight major championships remains intact. Only Jack Nicklaus has played in 100 consecutive majors or more; his staggering record of 146 will likely stay in place for years to come.
Scott could get there, but if he does, he would have to play in every major through the 2038 Open Championship. The U.S. Open will return to The Country Club at Brookline that year.
In addition to Scott, five other players received last-minute invites to Pinehurst No. 2 for the 2024 U.S. Open.
Robert MacIntyre earned an invite, as his win at the RBC Canadian Open solidified his standing within the U.S. Open field. His maiden PGA Tour victory vaulted his OWGR ranking up to 41st in the world, safely within the top 60 threshold set by the USGA.
LIV Golf’s Sergio Garcia will make his 25th straight start in a U.S. Open. He was a first alternate from the Dallas, Texas, qualifier. Interestingly, his best finish in this championship came at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2005, when he tied for third—although the course has completely changed since then.
Two other first alternates, amateur Brendan Valdes and Otto Black, are the 154th and 155th players in this year’s U.S. Open field. Maxwell Moldovan, a second alternate from the Springfield, Ohio, qualifier, who missed the Davis-Scott playoff by a stroke, rounds out the championship as the last man in.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.