Daniel Chopra
Tour veteran Daniel Chopra of Sweden is set to make his third appearance in the year’s second Major after he claimed a three-shot victory at the US Open Sectional Qualifying held at the Canoe Brook Country Club in New Jersey.
After carding a four-under 66 at the par-70 South course in the morning, Chopra fired eight birdies against a bogey to sign for a seven-under 65 at the par-72 North course, topping the leaderboard with a winning total of 11-under 131. Chopra, a former two-time PGA Tour winner and a one-time winner on the Asian Tour, will lead four other players, who all finished inside top-five at the Canoe Brook Country Club, to the 117th US Open which will be held at the Erin Hills from June 15 to 18. “I felt really good about my game coming in here, and I felt like it would be a good opportunity if I played well and kept my head on my shoulders. If I played solid golf, I would have a great chance,” said Chopra, who is born to a Swedish mother and Indian father.
Aaron Rai
Meanwhile, Englishman of descent Aaron Rai carried his magnificent recent form to Walton Heath Golf Club to earn medalist honors in US Open sectional qualifying and secure his Major championship debut at Erin Hills next month. The Wolverhampton native, who has won two events on the European Challenge Tour this season, made an incredible late run, with five birdies and an eagle in his final nine holes of the 36-hole qualifier to card a second-round, 8-under 64 and come in at 14-under 130. Li Haotong of China, meanwhile, will also make his US Open debut at Erin Hills after he matched Rai’s 64 in Round 2 to place second with a 13-under total. Meanwhile, Shiv Kapur and Jeev Milkha Singh failed to qualify for the prestigious tournament. Shiv carded 70 at Walton Heath’s Old Course while Jeev posted 75 at the New Course to rule themselves out of qualifying.
Aaron, Daniel miss cut at Erin Hills
India’s hopes Daniel Chopra and Aaron Rai succumbed before the alien conditions at Erin Hills Golf Club to miss the cut at the 117th US Open. Chopra, Swede of Indian descent, carded 5-over 77 in the first round and 8-over 80 in Round 2 to rule himself out of the prize money stage of the season’s second Major. Rai, Englishman born to an Indian mother, began well shooting one-over 73 in the first round but could not carry the momentum in the next round to post 8-over 80 and bow out of the $12 million tournament.