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Former NFL running back one step away from playing 2022 U.S. Open

By Savannah Leigh

FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 26: Danny Woodhead #39 of the New England Patriots carries the ball in for a touchdown as teammate Dan Koppen #67 follows in the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills during on September 26, 2010 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 26: Danny Woodhead #39 of the New England Patriots carries the ball in for a touchdown as teammate Dan Koppen #67 follows in the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills during on September 26, 2010 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Former NFL running back Dan Woodhead inches closer to playing in golf’s U.S. Open.

On Wednesday at Omaha Country Club, former NFL running back Dan Woodhead earned one of the five qualifying spots to advance to the final qualifying round of the U.S. Open. As one of the amateurs in the field, he fired off an even-par 71 and was one of four players who shot par or better.

The local qualifying goes from April 25 to May 23, so the end is near, but this former NFL back shows that he is multi-talented. There are 109 qualifying sites currently working through this process.

U.S. Open final qualifying will be at 11 different sites, with two of them playing on May 23 and the nine other ones playing on June 6, so golf’s longest day will be here before we know it.

Woodhead played for multiple teams, including the New York Jets, New England Patriots, the Chargers, and Ravens. Despite being undrafted, he had a decent career. During his time in the NFL, he recorded 4,936 yards and 32 touchdowns.

Danny Woodhead makes final qualifying round for 2022 U.S. Open

Now he is competing on a different turf as Woodhead looks to make the hallowed 122nd U.S. Open field on June 16-19 at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Woodhead had a solid day on the course Wednesday as he made four birdies and four bogeys to finish even par. He made an incredible birdie on 17 to get the push to close strong enough to advance.

He is no stranger to success on the golf course, as he also qualified for the 2021 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball at Chambers Bay. So this advancing score doesn’t surprise us at all. That is what the U.S. Open is all about, getting the best golfers at that current moment to compete and see what happens.

If Woodhead makes it, that would be a great story because it is such an extraordinary story from the NFL to the US Open. To go from football to golf isn’t abnormal, but to see him compete with the pros shows it’s possible.

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