He is 17 years old. Tiger Woods’ son is his friend. He is also competing in the US Open
SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Miles Russell, 17, entered the US Open, at 131, at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, at 135. In Thursday’s first round, Russell beat, among others, former Shinny winner Brooks Koepka, 36; Top 100 participant Adam Scott, 45; and three-time major champion Padraig Harrington, one of Russell’s playing partners, at 54, three times his age.
But if it’s an idea we want, we should talk to someone who had a good idea—Russell’s general manager on Thursday.
17 years.
“It’s really crazy.”
The Long Islander then watched as Russell hit a tee shot on the par-3 17th hole.
“One.”
And where you are going. Thursday was crazy. And he became crazier. Last week, Russell advanced to this point by making the finals in the final qualifying tournament. Prior to that, he had played on the US’s first junior national team. And he was the youngest ever to make the cut on the Korn Ferry Tour. He moved into the top 10 in the world. But the Shinnecock show may have meant more to him. He’s the youngest player at the US Open, where the goal is to make you feel like you’ve been there Shinnecooked.
But to go with three bogeys and a birdie, he posted 14 pars, which is pretty boring, which is what you want in this national championship, and that’s how Russell took it. He said he was watching the experts. He said he was watching what could be seen as watching grass in a green field. “You watch them play and you’re like, man, this guy is playing really well, and at the end of the round, you see the score and you shoot like 65,” Russell said. “You guys, I didn’t see you shoot 65 out there, but it’s kind of ho-hum and a lot of fairway greens. It’s nothing special.”
But two over 72 are.
After the morning wave, Russell was just four behind the lead.
“It’s the way, I mean, the way you’re supposed to play this golf course,” he said. “I feel like, especially with the wind we had, you have to try to hit a lot of greens and put them close because I mean putting in the wind is not easy, once you get to the green it’s not easy, so you try to hit a good putt and if it goes in, great, but if it doesn’t, it happens.
If you think Russell says the right things, it’s because he does. On Thursday, he admitted that he still has an old soul. He said he was smiling throughout the round because “it’s hard not to smile when you’re playing in the US Open at the age of 17.” He gave his game an “A” grade, but “could be a few shots better, for sure.” He said there are nerves at No. 1, but “that’s what you practice for.” Then there’s his friend, Charlie Woods, son of 15-time major winner Tiger Woods. Both would play on the Florida State University golf team, and eventually, the younger Woods played for Russell. Has Charlie arrived yet?
“No, you’re busy,” laughed Russell.
“You have other things going on.”
The day before, in a pre-tournament press conference – serious stuff, for sure – Russell said he would try to do this week “another tournament,” which, again, it’s worth saying, only one player a few years older thinks Russell has done that much.
“He played well,” Harrington said.
“Two-over par was the worst he could have shot. He hit it dead all day. He wasn’t really in too much trouble. Maybe he could have been a couple better.”
As for how Russell compares to some of Harrington’s other impressive feats, Russell seems to appreciate the answer.
“You have to wait and see,” Harrington said.
“It’s hard to tell in the wind. He played good golf, he hit it – like I said, it looked like he could hit it down the rope. I think he wants the fairways, if you ask me. He looked good.
“I’ll wait and see another day. He’s a little boy, isn’t he? He’s 17 years old. I don’t remember what I was doing when I was 17 years old. Yes, I’m sure everything is in front of him.
“It looked pretty good. It’s hard to tell in one round of golf with all that wind.”
On Friday at 1:14 pm from hole 10, Russell and Harrington, along with their other playing partner, Cameron Smith, will return, and Russell will undoubtedly take it all in again. In that pre-tournament workout, he even waxed poetic about why he plays. He said golf is on him. At home, he said golf is peaceful for him. “Just going out and playing nine holes by myself,” Russell said, “and that’s kind of what I love about the game.”
As Thursday ends, he sees Russell’s coach, Ramon Bescansa, who doubles as his player. Played pro golf for a while. He played at the University of North Carolina. He used to be a little star himself. On Thursday, he said he was happy with the way things worked out with Russell. “He hit the ball very well,” said Bescansa. “He hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens. He definitely could have made a few more putts, but he hit them well. He rolled them well. Just a lot of close balls, and with the wind, it was hard to make putts.”
But you wonder:
Had Bescansa, aged 41, done what Russell did when he was Bescansa, aged 17?
He laughed.
“No.”
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