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3 under-the-radar golfers you shouldn’t forget about at the US Open

By Drew Koch

LAHAINA, HAWAII - JANUARY 03: Harris English of the United States plays a shot. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HAWAII - JANUARY 03: Harris English of the United States plays a shot. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Russell Henley plays his shot.
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 08: Russell Henley plays his shot. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Which under-the-radar golfers should fans not forget about at the 2022 US Open?

A trio of Americans will tee it up on Thursday morning to get things underway at The Brookline Country Club in Massachusetts. Michael Thorbjornsen, Erik Barnes, and Matt McCarty will be the first three golfers to get things started at the 2022 US Open.

But that might be the last time we hear those names mentioned this week. None of the three are expected to be in contention atop the leaderboard this week at the US Open.

While most fans are banking on seeing the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, or Cameron Smith holding the lead while walking up the 18th fairway, you never really know who’ll be in contention on Sunday afternoon.

There’s always a handful of unknowns who dot the leaderboard on Thursday, and some of those golfers may well be the mix as the Sunday pairings make the turn. Which under-the-radar golfers should fans not forget about at the 2022 US Open?

3. Russell Henley is an under-the-radar contender at the 2022 US Open

Russell Henley was the leader in the clubhouse after 54 holes during last year’s US Open at Torrey Pines. Henley was tied with Mackenzie Hughes and Louis Oosthuizen atop the leaderboard at five shots under par.

A troublesome front nine on Sunday that saw him shoot three-over ended any hope of Henley capturing his first major championship. The Georgia native shot 76 on Sunday to finish at even-par for the tournament in a tie for 13th-place.

Henley hasn’t won a PGA Tour event since 2017 at the Shell Houston Open. However, he nearly upended Hideki Matsuyama in this year’s Sony Open. Matsuyama’s Sunday surge ended with an eagle on the first playoff hole, which placed Henley in second place.

Russell Henley might not be on the tip of your tongue as play begins on Thursday, but few assumed he’d be leading last year’s US Open after Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Keep an eye on Henley as an under-the-radar contender at this year’s tournament.

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