Harry Higgs Overcomes Struggles to Shine at U.S. Open

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Harry Higgs, known as "the Big Rig," faced a critical juncture in his golf career just before the U.S. Open. Feeling burnt out and mentally exhausted, he was ready to walk away from the sport. However, in a twist of fate, he was added to the tournament as an alternate on Monday, barely in time to compete. Arriving in New York, he didn’t even unpack his suitcase, leading to a comical wardrobe misstep when he showed up in shorts before swiftly changing into appropriate attire for Shinnecock Hills.

Fortunately for Higgs, the wardrobe malfunction didn’t hinder his performance, as he made his first cut of the PGA Tour season. “I let the day build and build and build, and man, I felt like a rock star out there,” he expressed after shooting a 2-under 68 in the second round, which included a remarkable 75-foot birdie putt after a tough miss on the 11th hole.

Reflecting on his previous struggles, Higgs admitted that he used to spiral into frustration over poor shots. “That would have been, hell, even a week ago, that probably would have been an 8, 9, 10 out of 10 freakout,” he noted, emphasizing the mental shift he has made. He is now focused on playing confidently and feeling like he belongs among the elite competitors.

As he heads into the weekend at 1 under par, Higgs finds himself six strokes behind leader Wyndham Clark. “Again, there’s a lot of golf left, but I can just choose to be a factor,” he said, determined not to feel like an insignificant part of the tournament despite his earlier ranking as the last player in the field.

Higgs has experienced both highs and lows in his career, with notable finishes in major tournaments, but recent months have been challenging as he struggled on the Korn Ferry Tour. Just prior to qualifying for the U.S. Open, he contemplated quitting golf altogether. Yet, after a strong finish in a qualifier, he secured his spot at Shinnecock after Bud Cauley’s victory at the Canadian Open created an opening.

With a renewed sense of optimism, Higgs is eager to carry this momentum forward. “I haven’t had that feeling in a while,” he said, expressing his hope to replicate the joy of his performance over the next two days. “If I don’t, I’m just going to try my damnedest and see what happens.”