15-year-old golfer qualifies for US Open

15-year-old American golfer, Cole Hammer

In doing so, Cole Hammer of Houston, Texas has become the second-youngest American to qualify, behind Tadd Fujikawa of Hawaii, who at 15 years and 5 months was 5 months younger than Hammer when he missed out qualifying at Winged Foot in 2006.

The youngest ever golfer to play in a US Open is China’s Andy Zhang, who was 14 when he played in 2012. He is now committed to play for the university of Florida.

Hammer says he was inspired by American star golfer Jordan Spieth. "This means the world to me. When I saw Jordan Spieth win the Masters, I said: 'I can do this.'", he said in an interview after qualifying in Dallas, Texas.He first won at his local qualifying event in Deerwood before going on to play at Northwood in Dallas. Finishing second at that event, Hammer qualified to become one of the 156-member team due to play at this year’s U.S Open, to be held from the 18^th to the 21^st of June.

Modest about his victory, Hammer said had not had “any plans for that weekend, but we do now.” He had aspired to make the U.S Junior team in the summer, but has now gone on to the main category instead.

The 2015 U.S Open will commence next week at Chambers Bay in the city of University Place, Washington. Last year’s championship was won by German Martin Kraymer, and the last U.S. Champion of the Open was Webb Simpson, who won in 2012.