Matthew Vogt is a dentist by trade but sensationally qualified to play the

U.S. Open

at Oakmont next week.

On Monday, Vogt shot 68 in both rounds at Walla Walla in Washington to finish eight-under and secure one of the two available spots at the final qualifying session for the 2025 U.S. Open. He will be joined in the field by Brady Calkins, who carded a seven-under score.

While the likes of

Masters champion Rory McIlroy

,

PGA Championship winner Scottie Scheffler

, and

defending U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau

represent some of the biggest names in the game, the beauty of open tournaments is that anyone can qualify. Vogt is

one of a few Cinderella stories

entering this year’s U.S. Open.


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Final qualifying for the U.S. Open is a grueling 36-hole test known as “Golf’s Longest Day.” Even professionals

such as Max Homa and Rickie Fowler can struggle

to make it through with a spot in the tournament. Born in Pittsburgh and currently working as a dentist in Indianapolis, Vogt has officially navigated the gauntlet to book his spot in the field at Oakmont for the 125th edition of the U.S. Open.

“I told you, I’m going to try not to cry,” Vogt, who was fighting back tears, told Golf Channel. “We stayed present all day. I knew I could do this… I just knew I could do it.

“Oakmont, and Pittsburgh, and everything there just means so much to me. Having grown up in Pittsburgh and caddying there, it took every ounce of energy in my body to not think about that all day. And I’m just so proud of staying present and staying in the moment.


“I feel like I’m going to wake up from a dream here and this isn’t going to be real, and I’m so excited.”

Vogt has a history of caddying at Oakmont in the past, doing so for six years. He knows the course very well and acknowledged that such an intimate understanding of a course can prove detrimental.




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“I haven’t seen the recent renovations,” Vogt added. “I haven’t been back since the 2021 USAM, and it was very hard then, so…

“I’m a different player. I’m a better player, I know that. But I’m playing with the best players in the world so I will soak up every single second of that week and stay insanely present.

“It’s just a dream come true, it truly is. To continue to play amateur tournaments and to continue to play around the country and just grind… I love this game, and it does so much for me, and just validating all the hard work… I’m speechless. Truly.”


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Tragically, Vogt’s father passed away two months ago. Asked if his father will be with him at Oakmont, Vogt said: “Yes, yeah. I mean, the ribbon on my hat here is him. We talked about golf, but he didn’t really teach me the game. We love sports and shared that bond.

“When I was starting to play golf again and take this seriously, he was always the one guy who was tracking me. He was texting me after every birdie, and I knew he was tracking me today.

“I was looking up to the skies, and I knew he was with me – he’ll always be with me. I wish he was here to share it with, but I know he’s watching.”

The 2025 U.S. Open Championship will be held June 12–15 at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.