Davis Riley Qualifies for 122nd U.S. Open

Davis Riley punched a ticket to the U.S. Open with a 3rd place finish in the final qualifying stage

The 25-year-old rookie continued his stretch of solid play, grabbing a spot in the 122nd U.S. Open being held in Brookline, Mass. next week.

The former University of Alabama golfer posted an 11-under 132 on Monday at the Powell, Ohio final qualifying site to get into the field. He will come into the major championship on a hot streak, he has rattled off six straight top-15 finishes including a T13 finish at last month’s PGA Championship.

Riley has come close to grabbing his first career PGA Tour victory on a few occasions this season. The best chance came at the Valspar Championship in late March. The Hattiesburg, Mississippi, native fired a third-round 62 to take a two-shot lead into the final round.

After an early triple bogey, Riley battled back to post a final round 72 that put him in a tie at the top of the leaderboard with the reining Valspar Championship winner Sam Burns. Riley was unable to dethrone Burns, the Shreveport, Louisiana, native as he drained a long birdie putt on the second playoff hole to grab the victory.

Riley followed up the close call with a T63 and missed cut in his next two starts, then the stretch of scalding hot play began.

Riley in midst of career-best stretch

Since missing the cut at the RBC Heritage Riley has played outstanding golf. In the six golf tournaments since the MC he has finished: T4, 5, T9, T13, T4, and T13. In the 24 rounds of golf during this stretch, Riley has finished with a round in the 60’s on 16 occasions, including five rounds of 65 or better.

Making his 3rd career U.S. Open start

The 122nd U.S. Open at The Country Club will be Riley’s third start at the major championship. His debut came in 2015 as an 18-year-old, making the field after advancing through sectional qualifying in Memphis, Tennessee.

While he missed the cut that year at Chambers Bay, the young up-and-comer got his first taste of major championship golf.

His second start would come five years later at the 120th U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. Riley failed to make the cut at the event, but gained more experience at the highest level of professional golf.

Now, playing some of the best golf of his life Riley will look to play well in his 3rd career U.S. Open start. After a solid finish at the PGA Championship last month, he has garnered a lot of attention in the golf world as a possible dark horse contender next week.

Bright future ahead for Mississippi native

Regardless of his performance next week, Riley has shown he has the potential to be a very good professional golfer for years to come. He is currently 21st in the FedEx Cup standings, with a little over two months remaining in his rookie campaign.

Keep an eye on Riley at the 122nd U.S. Open next week and throughout the rest of the season as he looks to capture his first career victory on the PGA Tour.