OAKMONT, Pa. — On the 15th hole, the golf ball tantalizingly hit the edge of the cup but refused to drop for a bogey, a moment that felt particularly harsh. It seemed Oakmont Country Club was revealing its full difficulty to George Duangmanee during a round where his usual game was absent.
Competing in his inaugural U.S. Open, Duangmanee recorded his fourth double bogey of the round on the challenging par-4 15th. Earlier, on the fourth green, a struggle akin to `pingpong` led to a triple bogey, contributing to a remarkable and unexpected front nine score of 47.
Achieving a nine-hole score around 40 is generally considered poor at this elite level; one approaching 50 is exceptionally rare. Yet, this is precisely the nature of Oakmont. Players arriving hoping to display their skills frequently find themselves brought back to earth by a course deliberately designed to challenge and frustrate. Notably, three of the four highest single-round scores posted in the U.S. Open over the past two decades occurred on this very course.
However, a key appeal of the U.S. Open, often highlighted by USGA CEO Mike Whan, is its accessibility. The tournament allows anyone to attempt to qualify and compete alongside the world`s top golfers – whether they are a 17-year-old amateur, a practicing dentist, or a 23-year-old from Fairfax, Virginia, pursuing a career in professional golf.
Duangmanee transitioned to professional golf in 2024 following his graduation from UVA. He later made his inaugural PGA Tour appearance in May 2025 at the Myrtle Beach Classic in South Carolina. During this event, he successfully made the cut after posting two rounds under par, ultimately finishing the tournament at 5 over.
For a player holding only conditional status on PGA Tour Americas, secured through qualifying school, this performance served as additional validation of his potential. However, the U.S. Open presented a challenge on an entirely different scale.
“I feel like this was the biggest stage of golf I`ve ever played in,” Duangmanee said.
To even earn the opportunity to compete on Oakmont`s fairways, Duangmanee had delivered what were arguably two of his career-best rounds. At Springfield Country Club in Ohio on June 2, a qualifying site where numerous professionals attempted and failed to advance, Duangmanee posted scores of 68 and 67 to secure his spot.
The nature of golf is perhaps best encapsulated by this contrast: shooting 5 under par to gain entry to the U.S. Open, only to face the prospect of an 86 on Thursday followed by a score nearing 90 the very next day.
Duangmanee admitted, “I knew it was going to be a hard test coming in. I didn`t think it was going to be that hard.”
Visibly fatigued, Duangmanee seemed taken aback when a USGA official informed him reporters wished to speak. He had just endured a demanding contest against the course for more than five hours, resulting in a clear defeat. Nevertheless, his perspective conveyed a different story.
Duangmanee expressed optimism despite the challenging round, stating, “I`m really positive about just being here and excited for the confidence I can get from it. It`s a little bit intimidating being around people you watch on TV every week, but I`m trying to learn as much as how they practice now, how they warm up and everything. So I`ve been keeping an eye on how the best in the world do it, so I`m going to use that going forward.”
Between holes on the back nine, Duangmanee permitted himself moments of respite. He conversed with his playing partner, Austen Truslow, hydrated with water, and ate a grape jelly Uncrustable. Despite his performance struggling significantly, his disposition remained positive.
He explained his approach for the day: “Going into today, I just wanted to have fun out there. I knew I was kind of out of it after my first round, so I just tried to enjoy the experience as much as possible, try to keep my head up, and I didn`t really get down on myself. I just kept going, and I was just happy to be here.”
Evidence of frustration was present, particularly on the 17th hole when he struggled to advance the ball from the thick fescue towards the green, dropping his head momentarily in disappointment. His subsequent shot from the rough also wasn`t ideal, yet Duangmanee persevered. He maintained his pre-shot routine diligently for every attempt. On a day when Oakmont proved too formidable for many competitors, even top players, Duangmanee chose resilience.
His drive on the 18th hole, a wild shot attributable to a driver that had been inconsistent throughout the round, found a fairway bunker, setting the stage for the conclusion of his score. Duangmanee successfully played out of the bunker, leaving a challenging wedge shot that finished long of the target. His subsequent downhill putt for par missed wide and rolled well past the hole.
The aspirational journey to the U.S. Open brought not only Duangmanee to the event but also his family. His parents, his brother (a junior golfer at UVA), his grandfather, his girlfriend, and other relatives traveled to Pittsburgh to support him. Ultimately, his final score was of lesser importance compared to the experience and support.
Duangmanee acknowledged the significance of their presence, saying, “It does mean a lot to have people who want to be out here and watching me play golf and supporting me.”
Under humid Pittsburgh skies, with the stands surrounding the 18th green (which would be full in two days) sparsely occupied, Duangmanee addressed his putt for bogey. He faced a distance of 6 feet, 7 inches.
He meticulously assessed the putt, treating it with the same focus as a crucial shot to make the cut, and successfully holed it.
Approaching his caddie, Duangmanee couldn`t suppress a smile. His round of 89 tied for the second-highest single-round score recorded at the U.S. Open within the past two decades.
He reflected positively on his achievement: “Just making it here was a big accomplishment for me. It proves that what I`m doing, the hard work I`m putting in practice, is paying off. Being able to compete against the best guys in the world. It`s really where I want to be.”
Although Oakmont might be sending Duangmanee back with a cumulative score of plus-35, he doesn`t intend to depart immediately. He dedicated significant effort to reach this point and isn`t quite ready to leave the experience behind.
He shared his plans, “I`m definitely going to take at least three or four days off and just enjoy it with the family. I think I will stay around. We`re already here, and it`s the U.S. Open.”
