Year in, year out, “Golf’s Longest Day” produces unforgettable storylines. Regular Joes become heroes. Old pros find their way back to the big stage. Sometimes celebrities even throw their hats into the ring, hoping to clinch a coveted US Open berth. But you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better story this year—heck, any year—than that of Matthew Vogt.
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Matthew Vogt, DDS, is getting closer and closer to *ahem* filling a spot in the U.S. Open field!
He's tied for the lead at Wine Valley Golf Club.
Live scores: https://t.co/ne69qWLFGa pic.twitter.com/VkfWR6Jlqj
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 2, 2025
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On Monday at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Wash., Vogt, a dentist from Indianapolis, shot back-to-back 68s to punch his ticket to the 2025 US Open at Oakmont Country Club. That alone would have been a quintessential GLD moment, but there’s more to the story. Much, much more. In a must-watch interview following the second round at his Final Qualifying site, Vogt—whose father passed away two months ago—revealed that not only was he born and raised in Pittsburgh, he was also a former caddie at Oakmont. This may sound like a made-up movie script, but we promise it’s not.
A caddie turned dentist turned U.S. Open competitor! 👏 👏 👏
If you watch one Golf's Longest Day interview, make sure it's this one from Matthew Vogt. pic.twitter.com/f1WEehPfsG
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 3, 2025
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When the first words out of someone’s mouth during an interview are “I told you I’m going to try not to cry,” you know it’s going to be a tearjerker. But much like his Final Qualifying performance, Vogt held it together admirably, reflecting on “staying present” on the course, his long history at Oakmont and his relationship with his father, who he says used to track his scores live, texting him after every birdie.
“I knew he was tracking me today,” Vogt said. “I was looking up to the skies and I know he’s with me, and he’ll always be with me.”
This is the kind of storyline that only “Golf’s Longest Day” can deliver. Where it goes from here is anybody’s guess. A Michael Block-like performance from the amateur is probably too much to ask, especially on what is expected to be a brutal Oakmont setup. Still though, it’s a moving example of golf’s uncanny ability to imitate life, and golf fans everywhere will be pulling for Vogt when he returns to his old stomping grounds next week.
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