Success on the golf course is not foreign to Preston Summerhays, and he’ll have yet another chance to add to his resume this weekend when he tees it up in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, at the 2025 U.S. Open Championship.
Though this isn’t his first opportunity to play in the tournament, having made his major debut at the 2020 U.S. Open, and once again competing in the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, he has yet to make it to the weekend. He tees off Thursday at 9:41 a.m. MST.
Summerhays, a Scottsdale local, missed the cut by four strokes two years ago, carding a 6-over par through two rounds of play. Wyndham Clark won the tournament that same year with a score of 10-under.
He learned some invaluable lessons from both tournaments and carries those lessons onto the course at Oakmont Country Club on Thursday.
“It’s important to get settled in, and at Oakmont this week, it’s hard to get settled in,” Summerhays said. “I’m much more chill just doing my own routine and treating it like every other tournament.”
The 22-year-old golf pro has played on some really tough tracks during his amateur and professional career, but according to him, Oakmont is one of the toughest in the world.
And he’s not wrong.
The course will play at over 7,300 yards and have a par score of 70. It features narrow fairways, extremely tall roughs, and, let’s not forget, a nearly 300-yard par-three eighth hole, which Summerhays said he used a mini driver on during his practice round Tuesday, “sticking it” within 15 feet.
Summerhays, along with other professional golfers, jokingly said that they would sign off on a 4-over scorecard at this course without complaints.
“It’s an extremely tough golf course that demands all of your attention the entire day … although it’s extremely challenging, it’s actually fairly simple: Can you hit the golf shot or not?” Summerhays said.
Summerhays has trained with his dad, Boyd, throughout his career. Boyd has worked tirelessly throughout his son’s upbringing to make sure that he would be ready for this moment.
“As far as advice this week, he honestly hasn’t given me much,” Summerhays said. “We just got to make sure my game’s in the right spot, and that I’m in a good mental frame to go play.”
The beauty of the U.S. Open is that anyone can qualify. Whether you’re in high school, a dentist or a former major champion winner, the course is meant to challenge all players.
Summerhays is fully aware of the competition level he faces this week.
He’s also more than familiar with several famous tour pros, having been mentored by Tony Finau and Jon Rahm.
But across the entire field of play, there’s one person Summerhays is particularly looking forward to playing against: Reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy.
“I admire him and he’s been my idol since I was 10,” Summerhays said. “He’s always been my favorite player, I love his game and he’s been my hero for a long time.”
Summerhays and Rahm share the same home course, playing numerous rounds together at Silverleaf Country Club in Scottsdale.
For Summerhays, playing alongside one of LIV Golf’s biggest stars comes with many learning opportunities.
As a full-time professional golfer, Summerhays will no longer need to carry his own bag, like he did for five consecutive days through six rounds of golf at the NCAA Championship in Carlsbad, California, last month. This weekend, he’ll have an ally on the bag to help him talk through shots and read the remarkably fast and undulating greens at Oakmont.
His caddy will be Sun Devil standout and former teammate Connor Williams.
“I think the biggest part of having a caddy is being able to have fun and talk things out while walking down fairways,” Summerhays said.
Summerhays is confident — but not overly confident — in his ability to perform well on golf’s biggest stage.
One additional impediment he will have to contend with is the increased media coverage since becoming a full-time pro golfer.
While some young stars tend to steer away from the limelight, Summerhays embraces it.
“I really enjoy it, because ever since I was 10, I wanted to play professional golf,” Summerhays said. “Now that I’m here doing what I’ve always wanted to do, it’s definitely a lot, but I’m enjoying it.”