Harry Higgs Embraces U.S. Open Challenge After Overcoming Personal Struggles

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) — Just days before the U.S. Open, Harry Higgs found himself contemplating leaving golf behind due to the emotional toll of the sport. Added as a last-minute alternate on Monday, he arrived in New York without even unpacking his bags, leading to a comical wardrobe mishap. On Thursday, he mistakenly showed up in shorts at Shinnecock Hills, requiring a quick change before he could tee off.

Fortunately for Higgs, the mix-up did not hinder his performance. He enters the weekend with newfound confidence, having made the cut for the first time this year on the PGA Tour. “I let the day build and build and build, and man, I felt like a rock star out there,” Higgs said after shooting a 3-under 68 in his second round, which included a remarkable 75-foot putt for birdie.

Reflecting on his earlier struggles, Higgs noted a significant shift in his mindset. He faced a challenging tee shot on the 11th hole, admitting it was “the worst place you can hit it,” but he managed to keep his composure. “That would have been an 8, 9, 10 out of 10 freakout that I would have blamed something or someone else," he remarked, highlighting his commitment to a more positive approach this week.

Currently at 1 under par and six strokes behind leader Wyndham Clark, Higgs recognizes that there’s still plenty of golf to be played. “I can just choose to be a factor," he stated. "If the golf goes my way and the result goes my way, great, but I can choose to just, like, ‘Hey, you don’t have to be a small, insignificant piece of the 156 that was playing here.’”

Higgs has experienced both highs and lows in his career, including a tie for fourth in the 2021 PGA Championship and a top-15 finish at the Masters the following year. However, his recent journey has been fraught with challenges, having missed the cut in all six of his previous PGA Tour starts. Just a few weeks ago, during a U.S. Open qualifier, Higgs nearly walked away from the game entirely after a rough start.

Ultimately, he persevered through that day and secured an alternate spot in the U.S. Open. Following the late addition to the field, a delayed flight meant he arrived at Shinnecock on Monday, where he faced another hiccup with his wardrobe. He humorously described the borrowed shorts as potentially disastrous, given his size of 235 pounds. Now, with his wife’s timely delivery of his proper attire, he’s ready to embrace the weekend ahead with optimism. “I haven’t had that feeling in a while,” he shared. “I would love to recreate it over the next two days, and if I don’t, I’m just going to try my damnedest and see what happens.”