University of Tennessee Athletics
Photo by: Logan Whitton/USGA
Vol Golfers Herrington and Kyes, VFL Surratt Set for U.S. Open
June 16, 2026 | Men's Golf
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – The 126th edition of the U.S. Open is set to begin on Thursday morning with three Vols among the 156-player field at Shinnecock Hills.
Freshman Chase Kyes and sophomore Jackson Herrington are two of 20 amateurs in the 2026 U.S. Open field, while VFL Caleb Surratt gives Tennessee a third representative at golf's toughest test. Herrington is making his second major championship appearance, after competing in the 2026 Masters tournament, as Kyes and 22-year-old Surratt will make their major debuts.
The tournament will begin with round one on Thursday, June 18, as all three players get underway with early morning tee times. The U.S. Open will span through round four on Sunday, June 21, with a 36-hole cut made after round two on Friday. The broadcast schedule of the tournament can be found below:
Thursday, June 18 (Round 1): 6:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (USA); 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (NBCSN / Peacock)
Friday, June 19 (Round 2): 6:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. (NBCSN / Peacock); 1:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (NBC / Peacock)
Saturday, June 20 (Round 3): 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (USA); 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (NBC / Peacock)
Sunday, June 21 (Final Round): 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (USA); 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (NBC / Peacock)
Hosting its sixth U.S. Open in 2026, Shinnecock Hills is the only course in history to host a U.S. Open in three different centuries. The 7,440-yard, par-70 course last hosted the tournament in 2018, when Brooks Koepka won his second consecutive U.S. Open at 1-over-par. The notoriously difficult course lived up to the billing as the entire 156-player field ended the tournament above par.
Herrington earned his spot in the U.S. Open and the Masters by finishing as the runner up at the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship. At Augusta National Golf Club in March, he tied for the low amateur score at the Masters, shooting 8-over-par, despite all six amateurs missing the cut. For Tennessee, Herrington had a strong sophomore season featuring 16 rounds of par or better, two top-10 finishes, and a 71.35 scoring average.
Kyes' path to Shinnecock Hills looked much different than Herrington's as the soon-to-be sophomore advanced through local and final qualifying. He shot an 11-under-par 133 at final qualifying, known as golf's longest day, at Hawks Ridge Golf Club, in Ball Ground, Georgia. Kyes impressed as a freshman this past season for Tennessee, accumulating 20 rounds of par or better, two top-5 finishes, and a 71.58 scoring average.
Surratt also earned his place through final qualifying, surviving a dramatic six-for-one playoff at the Dallas Athletic Club. The VFL, who was a standout freshman for the Vols in 2022-23 before turning professional, posted a 3-under-par 36-hole score on golf's longest day. During his stint at Tennessee, Surratt was named the 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year, won the 2023 SEC Individual Championship, and became the first Vol in program history to earn First Team All-America honors.
2026 marks the second consecutive year with Tennessee representation at the U.S. Open. Lance Simpson competed in the 2025 edition of the tournament at Oakmont Country Club, where he closed at 12-over-par. Other VFLs to compete in the U.S. Open include Rick Lamb (2021), Oliver Goss (2014), and Ross McGowan (2008). Goss earned an amateur exemption in similar fashion to Herrington, finishing as the runner-up of the 2013 U.S. Amateur Championship.
2026 U.S. Open Tee Times – Round One
Caleb Surratt – 6:35 a.m. EST
Jackson Herrington – 6:46 a.m. EST (10th-tee start)
Chase Kyes – 6:57 a.m. EST
2026 U.S. Open Tee Times – Round Two
Caleb Surratt – 12:30 p.m. EST (10th-tee start)
Jackson Herrington – 12:41 p.m. EST
Chase Kyes – 12:52 p.m. EST (10th-tee start)
Freshman Chase Kyes and sophomore Jackson Herrington are two of 20 amateurs in the 2026 U.S. Open field, while VFL Caleb Surratt gives Tennessee a third representative at golf's toughest test. Herrington is making his second major championship appearance, after competing in the 2026 Masters tournament, as Kyes and 22-year-old Surratt will make their major debuts.
The tournament will begin with round one on Thursday, June 18, as all three players get underway with early morning tee times. The U.S. Open will span through round four on Sunday, June 21, with a 36-hole cut made after round two on Friday. The broadcast schedule of the tournament can be found below:
Thursday, June 18 (Round 1): 6:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (USA); 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (NBCSN / Peacock)
Friday, June 19 (Round 2): 6:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. (NBCSN / Peacock); 1:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (NBC / Peacock)
Saturday, June 20 (Round 3): 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (USA); 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (NBC / Peacock)
Sunday, June 21 (Final Round): 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (USA); 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (NBC / Peacock)
Hosting its sixth U.S. Open in 2026, Shinnecock Hills is the only course in history to host a U.S. Open in three different centuries. The 7,440-yard, par-70 course last hosted the tournament in 2018, when Brooks Koepka won his second consecutive U.S. Open at 1-over-par. The notoriously difficult course lived up to the billing as the entire 156-player field ended the tournament above par.
Herrington earned his spot in the U.S. Open and the Masters by finishing as the runner up at the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship. At Augusta National Golf Club in March, he tied for the low amateur score at the Masters, shooting 8-over-par, despite all six amateurs missing the cut. For Tennessee, Herrington had a strong sophomore season featuring 16 rounds of par or better, two top-10 finishes, and a 71.35 scoring average.
Kyes' path to Shinnecock Hills looked much different than Herrington's as the soon-to-be sophomore advanced through local and final qualifying. He shot an 11-under-par 133 at final qualifying, known as golf's longest day, at Hawks Ridge Golf Club, in Ball Ground, Georgia. Kyes impressed as a freshman this past season for Tennessee, accumulating 20 rounds of par or better, two top-5 finishes, and a 71.58 scoring average.
Surratt also earned his place through final qualifying, surviving a dramatic six-for-one playoff at the Dallas Athletic Club. The VFL, who was a standout freshman for the Vols in 2022-23 before turning professional, posted a 3-under-par 36-hole score on golf's longest day. During his stint at Tennessee, Surratt was named the 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year, won the 2023 SEC Individual Championship, and became the first Vol in program history to earn First Team All-America honors.
2026 marks the second consecutive year with Tennessee representation at the U.S. Open. Lance Simpson competed in the 2025 edition of the tournament at Oakmont Country Club, where he closed at 12-over-par. Other VFLs to compete in the U.S. Open include Rick Lamb (2021), Oliver Goss (2014), and Ross McGowan (2008). Goss earned an amateur exemption in similar fashion to Herrington, finishing as the runner-up of the 2013 U.S. Amateur Championship.
2026 U.S. Open Tee Times – Round One
Caleb Surratt – 6:35 a.m. EST
Jackson Herrington – 6:46 a.m. EST (10th-tee start)
Chase Kyes – 6:57 a.m. EST
2026 U.S. Open Tee Times – Round Two
Caleb Surratt – 12:30 p.m. EST (10th-tee start)
Jackson Herrington – 12:41 p.m. EST
Chase Kyes – 12:52 p.m. EST (10th-tee start)
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
Friday, May 15
Tuesday, September 02
Tuesday, September 03
Friday, April 26
