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The 125th U.S. Open is set to tee off at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania next week, with the championship running from June 12–15. Monday’s grueling qualifying event, famously dubbed “Golf’s Longest Day,” offered drama, heartbreak, and a stunning surprise, a high school junior punching his ticket to one of golf’s most prestigious events.
17-year-old Mason Howell shocked the golf world by earning a spot in the U.S. Open after a jaw-dropping 18-under-par performance over 36 holes at the Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta.
Howell, a junior at Brookwood High School in Thomasville, Georgia, shot identical rounds of 63 without a single bogey to finish tied for first alongside Illinois standout Jackson Buchanan. And he did it while outplaying PGA Tour veterans like 2007 Masters winner Zach Johnson.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was nervous,” Howell admitted. “But just hugging my mom and my dad walking off 18 green is just a feeling that I don’t know if I’ll feel again… that was one of the greatest moments of my life.”
One of the better performances you'll ever see on Golf's Longest Day... and it was from a high schooler!
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 2, 2025
17-year-old Mason Howell is heading to Oakmont. pic.twitter.com/S0PSKOsMIN
Despite entering the day ranked just 496th among amateurs, Howell proved why he’s No. 8 on the American Junior Golf Association list. With 14 birdies in his first 27 holes and a hot putter, he called it “an insane day.” He credited his caddie for “insane reads” and praised junior golf’s growing popularity in the U.S., saying, “Everybody’s getting into it.”
High school junior Mason Howell won the Atlanta U.S. Open qualifier with an incredible 18-under score over 36 holes.
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 3, 2025
Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/UOlNRJGA7N
Already committed to play for the Georgia Bulldogs in 2026, Howell now gets the chance to compete with the pros on Father’s Day weekend and do it with his biggest fan, his dad, by his side. “It’ll be a week I won’t forget.”
More must-reads:
- Golf power rankings: Who lurks behind British Open champ Scottie Scheffler?
- Predicting U.S. Ryder Cup team after British Open Championship
- The 'NBA all-time 50-point game leaders' quiz
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Just how good is Scottie Scheffler? Rory McIlroy weighs in
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Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski continues to set radar gun on fire at unprecedented rate
Milwaukee Brewers Jacob Misiorowski was back on the mound on Tuesday night against the Seattle Mariners, and even though he pitched just 3.2 innings, he continued to show why he is one of baseball's most exciting young talents. Prior to be pulled after 64 pitches, he allowed just three hits, walked one and struck out seven to continue his stunning start to his big league career. He also continued to light up the radar gun in a way that no other pitcher in the modern era has. Following Tuesday's start, where he regularly clocked in at over 101 mph, he has now thrown 39 pitches this season that have eclipsed 101 mph on the radar gun. He has done that in just 29.1 innings over six starts. By comparison, every other starting pitcher in Major League Baseball has tallied just 17 pitches of 101 mph or higher — combined. But it's not just about how he stacks up with pitchers this season that is staggering. It's that he is near the top of the list for 101 mph pitches for a career. Here are two of his 101 mph heaters from Tuesday. The ball just erupts out of his hand at the hitters. When you add in his mid-90s change-up and high-90s breaking pitches he is already one of the nastiest pitchers in the majors. It is that sort of electric stuff that made him a National League All-Star after just five appearances. For the season, he has now struck out 40 batters in 29.1 innings of work (that is 12.27 per nine innings), allowed only 15 hits and just eight earned runs. And five of those earned runs against came in only one start. Given his age and with the way teams today are extremely protective of their pitchers, he is probably going to see his pitch counts and innings closely monitored this season. When he is on the mound, though, he is quickly becoming appointment viewing.
Caitlin Clark drops mic on Kelsey Plum's Instagram post
Caitlin Clark might be the most popular figure in women's basketball right now, but she continues to draw shots left and right, both on and off the court. The Iowa product has stayed even keeled and mostly unrattled, but that doesn't mean she won't fight back. That's why, in the light of Kelsey Plum's recent comments, she decided to take matters into her own hands and clapped back at her with a simple, six-word message. Plum shared a picture of her during the WNBA's All-Star Weekend, which showed half of a Nike logo in the background. Clark was quick to spot it and just wrote "Thank u for the Nike ad." This happened just hours after Plum seemingly took a shot at Clark and her Team Clark teammates for reportedly not getting involved in their pre-game protest. “The T-shirt was determined this morning. Not to tattletale, but zero members of Team Clark were very present for that,” Plum revealed. “That really needed to be mentioned,” Sabrina Ionescu added while both laughed. WNBA All-Stars warmed up with a T-Shirt that read 'Pay us what you owe us,' ahead of their new CBA agreement, which is expected to be signed in the offseason. WNBA players get around 9 percent of the league's revenue, and they're asking for a bigger share since most of them also have to play overseas during the offseason because of the salary disparity. Plum is the vice president of the WNBPA, so it's not surprising to see her so involved in the protest and the demands. Then again, it's hard to understand the reasoning behind the tattle telling, as not only does it show that there might not be a united front ahead of these negotiations, but it also drives attention away from where it should be.
Chicago Blackhawks reportedly set to trade 25-year-old goaltender to Stars rival, Edmonton Oilers
The Chicago Blackhawks, a crowded goaltending situation and trade rumors involving the Edmonton Oilers have fans wondering if the Stars' rivals could soon upgrade their crease before training camp. With training camp approaching, Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson has five goalies under contract, including Spencer Knight, Arvid Soderblom, Drew Commesso, newly signed Stanislav Berezhnoy, and veteran Laurent Brossoit. Only two NHL roster spots are available, which has fueled speculation that Brossoit could be moved to a contender, with Edmonton emerging as a leading candidate. For Stars fans, seeing the Oilers potentially bolster their crease should raise eyebrows. Edmonton, fresh off a deep playoff run, is looking to avoid the same issues that hurt them late in the postseason. "The Blackhawks have too many goalies and not enough spots, and Brossoit's contract and experience make him a natural trade chip for a team like the Oilers."-Julien Trekker Chicago's goalie logjam and Berezhnoy's recent signing are detailed further at NHL.com. Dallas could see its rival upgrade as Blackhawks explore trading Laurent Brossoit Brossoit, 32, carries a $3.3 million cap hit for one more season. Drafted by Calgary in 2011, he's appeared in 140 NHL games, including time with Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Vegas, where he helped the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup in 2023. While Chicago decides, Drew Commesso continues to push for NHL time after posting a .911 save percentage over 39 AHL games. For a deeper look at Commesso's performance, his full profile is on Elite Prospects. I think if Edmonton lands Brossoit or even Commesso, Dallas may have to plan around a deeper Oilers team come playoff time, especially given how tight the Western race looks on paper.
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