SINGAPORE – National golfer Hiroshi Tai’s maiden outing at the US Open came to an end on June 14 as he missed the cut by four strokes after shooting a four-over 74 in the second round of the tournament.
Tai was among 11 golfers who finished the US$21.5 million (S$29.1 million) event with a nine-over 149 total after 36 holes at Pinehurst No. 2.
He placed joint-114th out of a field of 156 players, with only the top 60 and ties making the cut to the third and fourth rounds.
After carding a five-over 75 in the opening round, the 22-year-old amateur, who is the first Singaporean to feature at the US Open, registered a birdie and five bogeys in the second round of the tournament (74).
The Georgia Institute of Technology sophomore earned his spot in the field of after winning a historic individual title at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship in May. Tai’s NCAA victory has also secured him a ticket at the 2025 Masters.
Tai is the first Singaporean to play in a Major since 2012 – when Mardan Mamat was disqualified on his third appearance at the British Open due to an incorrect scorecard.
Mardan was the first Singaporean to play in a Major at the 1997 British Open. Lam Chih Bing, who placed 83rd in the 156-strong field in the 2008 British Open, is the only local to have made the cut at a Major.
Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg currently stands atop the leaderboard at the US Open, after ending the second round with a one-under 69, taking the lead at five-under 135.
2020 US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau (69), Belgium’s Thomas Detry (69) and eight-time PGA Tour winner Patrick Cantlay (67) sit a stroke behind in joint second.
Notable names who did not make the cut include past US Open champions Tiger Woods, Justin Rose, Webb Simpson, Gary Woodland and Lucas Glover.