OAKMONT, Pa. – Fate seemed particularly harsh on the 15th hole, as George Duangmanee`s ball brushed the edge of the cup but refused to drop for a simple bogey. It felt like Oakmont Country Club was revealing its full difficulty, especially on a day when Duangmanee`s golf game had deserted him.
Competing in his inaugural U.S. Open, Duangmanee recorded his fourth double bogey of the round on the demanding par-4. Just eleven holes earlier, he had struggled immensely on the fourth green, carding a triple bogey that contributed to a remarkable and difficult front nine score of 47.
On this elite stage, a nine-hole score around 40 is considered poor. A score approaching 50 is almost unheard of. However, Oakmont is notorious for producing such numbers. Players arriving with confidence often find themselves humbled by a course specifically designed to challenge and frustrate. In fact, three of the four highest single-round scores in the U.S. Open over the past two decades have occurred at Oakmont.
Yet, the U.S. Open`s defining characteristic, often emphasized by USGA CEO Mike Whan, is its inclusive nature. The tournament is open to anyone who can qualify, allowing amateurs and aspiring pros to compete alongside the world`s elite – whether they are a teenager, a dentist, or a 23-year-old from Fairfax, Virginia, pursuing a professional golf career.
Duangmanee became a professional golfer in 2024 after completing his studies at UVA. He first appeared on the PGA Tour in May 2025 at the Myrtle Beach Classic in South Carolina, where he successfully made the cut by shooting two rounds under par, ultimately finishing the event 5 over.
For a player with only conditional status on PGA Tour Americas, earned through qualifying school, this performance was strong evidence of his potential. But the U.S. Open presented a challenge on an entirely different scale.
Duangmanee commented, “This felt like the grandest stage in golf I`ve ever competed on.”
Merely earning the opportunity to play at Oakmont required Duangmanee to deliver arguably two of his finest rounds ever. At Springfield Country Club in Ohio on June 2, he shot rounds of 68 and 67 in the qualifying event, securing his spot while many experienced professionals failed.
This sequence perfectly encapsulates the sport: achieving a score of 5 under par just to qualify for the U.S. Open, only to face an 86 in the first round and the possibility of a score near 90 the following day.
He admitted, “I knew it would be a tough challenge coming into this, but I didn`t anticipate it being quite *that* difficult.”
Looking tired, Duangmanee seemed taken aback when a USGA official informed him that reporters wished to speak with him. He had just endured a grueling five-hour battle with the course, a match he clearly lost decisively. Nevertheless, his perspective revealed a different kind of outcome.
Despite the score, Duangmanee shared, “I feel genuinely positive simply about being here and I`m enthusiastic about the confidence I can draw from this experience. It`s slightly intimidating being surrounded by players you regularly see on television, but I`m focused on absorbing as much as I can – observing their practice routines, warm-ups, and everything else. I`ve been closely watching how the world`s top players prepare, and I plan to apply those insights moving forward.”
Between holes on the back nine, Duangmanee took moments to relax. He chatted with his playing partner, Austen Truslow, drank water, and ate a grape jelly Uncrustable. While his performance on the course was struggling significantly, his state of mind remained resilient.
He explained his mindset for the round: “My goal for today was simply to enjoy being out there. After my first round, I knew I wasn`t realistically in contention, so I focused on soaking in the experience, staying positive, and not getting discouraged. I just kept playing, genuinely happy to have the opportunity to be here.”
Frustration was undeniably present. On the 17th, failing to advance the ball from the thick fescue to the green, he visibly showed disappointment. His subsequent shot from the rough didn`t fare much better. Yet, Duangmanee persisted, maintaining his routine before each shot. On a day when Oakmont was dismantling scorecards and sending even top players home, Duangmanee chose to endure and fight.
His tee shot on the 18th, a stray drive finding a fairway bunker due to ongoing issues with his driver, set the stage for his final hole`s outcome. Duangmanee managed to pitch out of the sand, but his subsequent wedge shot proved challenging, landing past the green. The downhill putt for par was a long shot and rolled well past the cup.
The ambition of competing in the U.S. Open had brought not only Duangmanee but also his entire family to Oakmont. His parents, brother (a junior golfer at UVA), grandfather, girlfriend, and other relatives had all traveled to Pittsburgh to support him. His final score was clearly less important than this shared experience.
Duangmanee acknowledged, “It genuinely means a great deal to have these people willing to come out, watch me play golf, and offer their support.”
On a humid Pittsburgh afternoon, with the stands around the 18th green (soon to be full) largely empty, Duangmanee stood over his bogey putt. He faced a challenging attempt from just over 6 and a half feet.
He analyzed the putt with intense focus, as if the outcome depended on making the cut, and sank it cleanly.
As Duangmanee walked off the green towards his caddie, he couldn`t suppress a smile. His final score of 89 tied for the second-highest single-round total recorded at the U.S. Open in the last two decades.
He reflected, “Simply qualifying and being here is a significant achievement for me. It validates the hard work I`m putting into my practice and shows it`s yielding results. Competing against the world`s top players is truly where I aspire to be.”
While Oakmont may be sending Duangmanee home with a score of +35 for the tournament, he isn`t leaving immediately. He invested considerable effort to reach this point and isn`t ready to depart just yet.
He plans to take a break, stating, “I`m definitely going to take at least three or four days off to simply enjoy this time with my family. I think we`ll stick around. We`re already here, and it`s the U.S. Open.”
