Matt Kuchar, Webb Simpson qualify for US Open

MIAMI: PGA Tour veteran Matt Kuchar and 2012 U.S. Open winner Webb Simpson successfully qualified for this year’s U.S. Open the old-fashioned way.

Kuchar and Simpson were among those who locked up their spots in this month’s major championship via final qualifying on Monday, often called “Golf’s Longest Day.” A total of 672 players competed in 36-hole qualifiers at locations around the United States and Canada to try to earn one of 44 available spots into the field at the U.S. Open, to be played June 13-16 at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club (Course No. 2) in North Carolina.

Kuchar, 45, was the medalist at his qualifying site. He shot rounds of 70 and 67 at The Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Fla., to go 7 under for the day. While Kuchar has never won a major, he has nine wins on the PGA Tour and once rated as high as No. 4 in the Official World Golf Ranking. However, due to a lack of recent success, he did not qualify for any exemptions into the U.S. Open field.

Simpson’s exemption for winning the 2012 U.S. Open expired after 2022, though he also got into the 2023 field. He hasn’t made a cut at a major since the 2022 PGA Championship.