Miles Russell, a 17-year-old amateur, made a touching gesture on Father's Day at the 2026 US Open by having his father, Joe, caddie for him on the final hole of his debut at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York. The teenager sought permission from the tournament's rules committee earlier that morning to allow the swap.
Father-Son Moment on the 18th Hole
As Russell walked up the 18th fairway, his regular caddie, Ramon Bescansa, dropped the bag and handed his bib to Joe Russell just inside the ropes. The crowd witnessed a heartwarming scene as Joe took over for the final stretch. Russell finished with an even-par 70 in the fourth round, securing a tie for 39th place with Jacob Bridgeman, John Keefer, and Robert MacIntyre.
Reflecting on the moment, Russell said: "It was pretty cool. Just there walking up 18, that's when he stepped in. It was a fun Father's Day gift. Cool since it was my first one. Hopefully, it's something he'll remember for a long time."
A Memorable Major Debut
Russell made the cut in his first major start, a feat he described as "bonus points." He added: "It was a pretty special week. Just to be here was really special, and to make the cut was bonus points. I didn't quite have my best stuff the last two days, but still really cool—just a great experience." The two-time junior player of the year qualified for the US Open and finished two shots behind Jackson Koivun and Ryder Cowan, both 21, who won the Silver Cup as the leading amateurs.
Despite being the youngest player in the field, Russell remained unfazed. "I don't know. I mean, I've played in a few pro events before, so it wasn't too different. The golf ball doesn't know your age, so all you're trying to do is get it in the hole as fast as you can," he said.
Learning from the Pros
Over the first two days, Russell played alongside Padraig Harrington, the oldest player to tee off, and Cameron Smith. He paid close attention to their games, noting: "It's been really cool watching Cam and Padraig, just the way they go about it. You're learning things."
Downplaying 'Future of Golf' Hype
Russell has been tipped as the 'future of golf' but played down the hype. "I don't know, that's kind of crazy. I mean, I think the main thing is just keep enjoying it, because if you're not enjoying it, you may not have much of a future in it. So, I think we just keep doing what we're doing and see where it takes us," he said. He added: "Golf is a very difficult sport. One day you have it, and the next day it's gone, so I think you just have to kind of block it out and just keep doing what you're doing, and hopefully one day that's true."
The U.S. Open's official Twitter account shared a video of the moment, captioning it: "Miles Russell's father, Joe, took over as caddie for his son's final walk up 18. What a Father's Day gift!"
