From Romo to J.T. Miller, familiar faces take their swing at Shinnecock

Familiar faces are taking their shot at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock this year, and it’s not just Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and the rest of the world’s top players.

A group of professional athletes better known for their careers in other sports are trying to qualify for one of golf’s most difficult tournaments.

That includes Rangers Captain J.T. Miller, who is hoping his fourth time is the charm. Currently known as one of the best celebrity golfers, Miller finished four strokes back of the cut line at a local qualifying event last year.

Tony Romo is also trying again, after falling short in 2025, 2023, 2019, 2017 and 2010.

The former Cowboys quarterback, whom Tiger Woods once called one of the two best celebrity golfers he’s ever played with, has competed in 4 PGA tournaments on sponsor’s exemptions in his career.

All four times, he has missed the cut, including finishing dead last in a 132-man field in his debut in 2018.   

Former Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks is in the field — and he has had some success on the links.

Last November, he won the inaugural MLB Open, and in January, he led the celebrity division at the LPGA Tournament of Champions. Hicks is married to former LPGA player Cheyenne Woods, Tiger Woods’ niece. 

Hicks’ former Yankees teammate Tyler Clippard is also trying to earn a spot after missing the cut in his first attempt last year.  

Former Jets running back Danny Woodhead is also part of the qualifying field. Woodhead has competed in a handful of USGA amateur events in recent years, including the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship.  In 2022, he advanced past the first qualifying round but did not make it past the second round.

But the best of the group may be NHL referee Garrett Rank.

An accomplished amateur golfer, Rank is hoping to get into the Open for a second time after qualifying back in 2018, the last time it was at Shinnecock Hills. He shot 11-over, missing the cut by 3 shots.

A total of 10,201 players have entered U.S. Open qualifying this year, the second-highest total in championship history, just one fewer than last year’s record. Unlike the other major championships, the U.S. Open is open to any player with a qualifying handicap.

While exempt players are already in the field, the remaining golfers must advance through a two-stage process that includes 18-hole local qualifying and 36-hole final qualifying.

Stay with Greater Long Island for complete coverage of this year’s Open, June 18 to June 21 at Shinnecock Hills.

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Tony Romo, left, and Josh Duhamel gesture at cheering fans on the 15th tee of the Pebble Beach Golf Links during the third round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Pebble Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)