If Sofia Rivera has one bit of advice for Miles Russell this week in the U.S. Open, it would be to take a few minutes for himself.
It could be on the practice range, on a tee or gazing at the stately clubhouse … anywhere on the historic Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Long Island, N.Y., that the 17-year-old Jacksonville Beach native will be for his practice and preparation in golf’s third major championship of the season.
Stop hitting balls. Stop hitting putts. Stop grinding, just briefly.
Rivera, a Beachside High School student who played in the U.S. Women’s Open earlier this month at the age of 16, said Russell owes it to himself to take some time to reflect on how hard it is to get to an Open and how rare the opportunity is at such a young age.
“You want to play well and stay focused,” said Rivera, who became the youngest player with First Coast ties to play in any professional major June 4-7 at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. “But let yourself go, ‘wow … I’ve made it. I did it. I earned it.”
Russell will become the youngest from the First Coast to play in a men’s professional major when the tournament begins on June 18. He qualified at a sectional at the BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, surviving a three-for-playoff for the final spot.
When qualifying began in May, 10,201 players began the process to eventually claim one of the 62 spots from the 36-hole sectionals. When Russell birdied the second playoff hole at BallenIsles he beat 164-to-1 odds.
Rivera echoes advice from her uncle
In those Tour events, Russell wasn’t in the same field with Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau. In his last PGA Tour start, the Puerto Rico Open, the top players in the world were Michael Brennan (ranked 42nd in the world at the time) and Rasmus Hojgaard (48th).
When Rivera advises Russell to enjoy the week, she’s speaking from experience because her caddie and uncle, two-time PGA Tour winner Russell Knox, told her the same thing before the U.S. Women’s Open.
“I wanted to make sure that Sofia wasn’t so intense about her preparation that she couldn’t enjoy the moment,” Knox said. “I think she did, and I think Miles will do the same thing. He’s got an unbelievable team around him, including his parents, his coach and caddie [Ramon Bescansa, who caddied for Knox when he tied for 12th at the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock], and they have done a great job keeping him motivated and grounded, allowing him to be in a position to play great golf.”
Knox doesn’t think Russell will be overwhelmed at being in the company of the world’s best players, pointing to Russell’s experience of playing in a combination of 12 PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour events.
Knox doesn’t think it will matter.
“Miles has been around the top guys,” Knox said. “He did a YouTube video with Bryson. He’s played at home with pros [such as Jackson Suber and Ben Kohles]. He’s been around enough talented golfers and I won’t think that will affect him one bit.”
Welcome to the NFL
What will be Russell’s “Welcome to the NFL” moment?
It most likely will involve an interaction with a player.
Rivera said hers was on the first day of the practice week when she bumped into past U.S. Open champion Michelle Wie West.
“Everything she’s done for the women’s game … it was like, ‘whoa,'” Rivera said. “It was crazy to think I was in the same tournament with her.”
“He’s got a great short game and I think that will always give you a chance,” she said. “If I had hit it just a little bit better at the start of my first round, I would have had a better chance of making the cut because my short game was pretty good [Rivera pitched in for birdie on her final hole in the second round]. I don’t know how much advice I could give him about his game but if he can chip and putt well he’s got a chance.”
Knox said another magic moment was after a nine-hole practice round the day before the Open began. His niece wanted to play the historic par-4 10th hole one more time and she found herself joined by LPGA stars Hyojoo Kim and Minjee Lee.
“I could tell she was a little nervous, but it was a cool moment,” Knox said.
Russell is getting a VIP experience
Rivera said Russell also will be able to enjoy a week in which players are pampered by the United States Golf Association. He will have access to physio trainers, a workout room and gourmet dining, and pristine practice conditions.
“They treat you insanely well,” she said. “Anything you could imagine that you need, they have. They treat the players amazingly well.”
Rivera said there are also gifts for players but the one she said she will treasure forever is a money clip with her name the U.S. Open logo that is exactly the same as what world No. 1 Nelly Korda received.
“You open your locker, and there are a million things in there,” she said. “You get spoiled by the USGA and your sponsors.”
Rivera overcame early jitters
Eventually, the gifts, fine dining and practicing alongside the best players in the world give way to the reason anyone is at a U.S. Open: to compete.
Rivera had a difficult start and was 5-over on her first seven holes. But she settled down and played 2-over for her next 29 holes. It wasn’t enough to make the cut, but she came away believing she belonged there.
She predicts Russell will acquit himself well.
“He’s got a great short game and I think that will always give you a chance,” she said. “If I had hit it just a little bit better at the start of my first round, I would have had a better chance of making the cut because my short game was pretty good [Rivera pitched in for birdie on her final hole in the second round]. I don’t know how much advice I could give him about his game but if he can chip and putt well he’s got a chance.”
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Sofia Rivera’s U.S. Open advice to Miles Russell is to stop and reflect
Reporting by Garry Smits, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Garry Smits, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY Network
