Top 7 Amateurs to look out for at the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst 2

Amateurs usually don't make much of a splash at Majors like the US Open as the quality of golf is higher than they are accustomed to. However, they are still talented golfers who are more than capable of putting together a good weekend.

What matters is that they're not necessarily competing with the Scottie Scheffler and Tiger Woods-esque players. They are competing at par for the course, so as long as they play the level of golf that they are capable of, they can do well at the US Open. Here are a few players that fans should keep an eye on this weekend:

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Amateurs to watch out for at US Open 2024

7) Colin Prater

Colin Prater made the US Open

What makes Colin Prater an interesting amateur to watch this weekend is the fact that he also works as a teacher. He's ranked outside the top 1,000 for amateur golfers, and has played Division II college golf several years ago.

Here's what he said about the upcoming challenge: (via CBS Sports)

"Excitement, nervousness, all the of the emotions. If I could play golf for 4 days that would be amazing. I can only control hitting that first tee shot and that's what I'm trying to prepare for."

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6) Stewart Hagestad

Stewart Hagestad will compete for the fifth time

Stewart Hagestad, the U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, is not like some of the other amateurs in the field. While most of the others are still in their early 20s, Hagestad is 33, an age similar to that of most professionals in the field. This will be his fifth US Open, the most for an amateur since 1989. Hagestad also played in the 2024 Masters, missing the cut after shooting eight over.

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5) Luke Clanton

Luke Clanton is an amateur in the field

Luke Clanton, a 20-year-old from Florida State University, is the sixth-ranked amateur in the world. That makes him one of the highest-ranked amateurs in the US Open field. Young and gifted, he made it to the field through Final Qualifying, and he is someone to watch this weekend.

Here's what Clanton said: (via the PGA Tour)

“I was talking with my buddies right after I qualified,” he said. “Like, ‘Oh, we can have a watch party at the U.S. Open this time, instead of at home."

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4) Brendan Valdes

Brendan Valdes has had an impressive season, one that includes getting into the tournament by way of final qualifying. He also helped Auburn win the NCAA team title and was named a first-team All-American in the process. Valdes is the world's 22nd-ranked amateur at the moment. Valdes will be a senior next year, so this could be vital to his PGA Tour future. Valdés previously missed the cut at the 2023 US Open (16 over par).

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3) Bryan Kim

Bryan Kim is the youngest amateur and thereby the youngest golfer in the field at the US Open. He's just 19 years old, and hence, this will be a huge tournament for him. It's rare for players so young to compete alongside professionals, let alone in Major tournaments, and so, Kim will try to navigate all the pressure that comes with that. He won the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, and that experience will hold him in good stead going into the U.S. Open.

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2) Hiroshi Tai

Hiroshi Tai, who is 35th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, was in the army for two years before going to Georgia Tech, the same university that former top amateur Christo Lamprecht attended. He won the NCAA Individual Title to cap off the year, which is why he is part of the U.S. Open field.

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1) Gordon Sargent

Gordon Sargent is one to watch at the US Open

Gordon Sargent is the top-ranked amateur in the world. He has played better than any of the amateurs that are currently in the field for the Major. He opted to stay at Vanderbilt for his senior year, though he had a PGA Tour membership card waiting. Sargent has a lot of experience already, including being a member of the 2023 Walker Cup. Sargent also won the 2022 Division I Individual Championship. In 2023, he tied for 39th at the US Open.