Miles Russell Impresses in Major Debut at 2026 U.S. Open

Seventeen-year-old Miles Russell, the young phenom competing out of Florida, made his highly anticipated major championship debut on Thursday at Shinnecock Hills at the 2026 U.S. Open.

Following a two-hour fog delay that pushed back the bulk of morning tee times, Russell teed off alongside 54-year-old three-time major champion Padraig Harrington and Open champion Cameron Smith. 

Standing on the first tee box, Russell looked anything but the youngest player in the field. He smiled and chatted with his caddie, shoulders relaxed and postured confidently. From his first tee shot to holing out on No. 18, the Florida State commit carried himself with the composure, maturity, and professionalism of a seasoned veteran. Had you not known better, you would have thought he had been playing major championships for years. 

Russell’s first true test — beyond the nerves that inherently accompany the opening tee shot — came on the No. 1 green. After catching a wedge shot slightly heavy from the fairway, Russell stood over a 58-footer with a stiff breeze at his back. He lagged it inside a foot, tapped in for par, and walked off the first green of his major championship career with the same smile he went on to wear throughout the rest of the round. 

LIVE BLOG: Notes and amusements from the first round

Shinnecock offered Russell no gentle introduction to major championship golf; a steady wind blew out of the south for most of his round. But Russell met the challenge, roping one tight, controlled draw after another and avoiding any real danger during the round. By day’s end, he had tallied three bogeys, a birdie, and fourteen pars for a 2-over 72, a score that bettered the morning wave by nearly two strokes. 

“To hear that, that’s pretty cool,” Russell said afterward when informed how his score stacked up against the field average.

Asked to grade his performance, Russell gave himself a high mark.

“I’d like to think an ‘A,’” he said. “I played pretty solid. If a few putts fell, it could have been a few shots better for sure.” 

Harrington was impressed by the youngster’s performance, calling his 72 the worst score he could have shot given how nicely he struck the ball in challenging conditions. 

There is plenty of golf left to be played in Russell’s first major championship, and almost certainly many more major starts in his future. But on Thursday, the 17-year-old left-hander delivered a thoroughly impressive performance on the biggest stage of his young career, showing why so many believe he has the potential to become one of golf’s next superstars.