Sandy Scott Qualifies for US Open

Photo cc: scotsman.com

This year’s US Open, which is returning to Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y. for the first time since 2006, will have a little bit of West Texas flair to it as senior Sandy Scott will be among the 7 amateurs playing in the event starting on September 17th.

Scott earned an exemption for the tournament based on his World Amateur Golf Ranking. The US Open uses the World Amateur Golf rankings from August 19, 2020 to extend an invite to the top 7th ranked players. Scott currently is ranked 6th in those rankings. The US Open normally has different local and regional qualifying tournaments in which amateurs can earn a spot in the field. While not all of the amateur exemptions were eliminated this year due to COVID-19, the only additional amateurs in the field are based on 2019 results.

Scott has had a decorated career during his time as a Red Raider. The 2-time PING All-America has won tournaments in back-to-back seasons and also has had a total of 8, top-10 finishes in the last two collegiate seasons. Scott also helped lead the Texas Tech team to finish the latest season ranked #3 nationally.

The US Open isn’t a complete stranger to amateurs performing well against the professionals. In 2009, amateur Nick Taylor set an 18-hole record for an amateur by shooting a round of 65 (-6). The record for the lowest 72-hole score by an amateur was by someone who would end up making a nice career for himself professionally as a golfer. Jack Nicklaus shot a 282 (-2) finishing 2nd in 1960. Winged Foot has seen an amateur win the US Open back in 1929 by famed Bobby Jones.

The best finish by a former Red Raider in the US Open was by Jeff Mitchell. Jeff finished 59th in the 1980 US Open held at Baltusrol Golf Club.