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2026 U.S. Open Amateur Field: The NIL Opportunity at Shinnecock Hills

  • 2 days ago
  • 4 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

by Golf NIL Staff
June 15, 2026

More than ten thousand entries later, the 156-player U.S. Open field takes shape. Among them: 19 amateurs, of which 16 are student-athletes for the upcoming 2026-27 season.


This week at Shinnecock Hills, those 16 will tee it up alongside the best players in the world: Major champions. Tour winners. Global talent.


As the toughest test in golf, the U.S. Open is the one major where the qualifying path is open to all and the audience is worldwide.


For those who earn their way in and compete, the NIL opportunity is unlike anything else. Beyond visibility, it's a way for players to showcase their talent against the game's greats on the year's most challenging course setups.


For fans looking for the next wave of talent and for brands looking at which players are separating themselves, competing in a field this deep is a sign of the upside ahead, and of who's worth paying attention to right now.



The Big Three

Jackson Koivun, Auburn - One of the greatest college golfers of his generation, Koivun will play in his final event as an amateur this week. Two national championships, three SEC titles, eleven career wins, and a $2.5M Golf NIL Valuation that led the college rankings all season. He'll debut a new apparel partnership with Malbon at Shinnecock before making his first professional start at the John Deere Classic, where he finished T11 as an amateur last year.


Miles Russell, Florida State ‘27 commit - At 17, Russell qualified on Golf's Longest Day, earning the final spot in a playoff. Future Florida State teammate Charlie Woods was on his bag that day, although Russell's longtime swing coach, Raymond Bescansa, will carry for him this week. Golf NIL High School Boys No. 2 with a $1 million Golf NIL Valuation, Russell has already logged 12 professional starts. This week marks his first major.


Preston Stout, Oklahoma State - Two weeks ago, Stout won the NCAA Division I individual title, earning his spot at Shinnecock and likely the Masters next spring. He makes his first major start as the new Golf NIL College Men's No. 1 with an $800K Golf NIL Valuation. For brands looking at a player to back, the next twelve months don't get more visible than this.


Miles Russell headlines U.S. Open amateur field with Jackson Koivun, Preston Stout and more

Miles Russell headlines a U.S. Open amateur field that includes Jackson Koivun, Preston Stout and more | Logan Whitton/USGA


The Amateur Field — 2026 U.S. Open, Shinnecock Hills

Listed alphabetically. Current Golf NIL College Men's Rankings as of the June 2026 summer reset; all other valuations and rankings as of the 2025-26 season's end.


  1. Hamilton Coleman, Georgia, incoming freshman | Former Golf NIL High School Boys No. 5 (2025-26) - Qualified via 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur win (Trinity Forest G.C.)

  2. Ryder Cowan, Oklahoma, incoming senior | Golf NIL No. 19 - Qualified via Final Qualifying (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)

  3. Ethan Fang, Oklahoma State, incoming senior | Golf NIL No. 2, $625K Golf NIL Valuation - Qualified via 2025 Amateur Championship win (Royal St. George's)

  4. Marek Fleming, South Carolina, incoming junior | Qualified via Final Qualifying (Sacramento, Calif.)

  5. Vaughn Harber, Ohio State, incoming junior | Qualified via Final Qualifying (Westerville, Ohio)

  6. Jackson Herrington, Tennessee, incoming junior | Golf NIL No. 22 - Qualified via 2025 U.S. Amateur runner-up (The Olympic Club)

  7. Mason Howell, Georgia, incoming freshman | Golf NIL No. 5, $500K Golf NIL Valuation - Qualified via 2025 U.S. Amateur win (The Olympic Club)

  8. Jackson Koivun, Auburn, 2026 turning pro | Former Golf NIL No. 1 (2025-26), $2.5M Golf NIL Valuation - Qualified via 2025 McCormack Medal win

  9. Chase Kyes, Tennessee, incoming sophomore | Golf NIL No. 39 - Qualified via Final Qualifying (Ball Ground, Ga.)

  10. Bryan Lee, Virginia, 2026 graduate | Golf NIL No. 50 (2025-26) - Qualified via Final Qualifying (Rockville, Md.)

  11. Eric Lee, Oklahoma State, incoming senior | Golf NIL No. 13 - Qualified via Final Qualifying (Sacramento, Calif.)

  12. Jackson Ormond, Florida, incoming freshman | Qualified via Final Qualifying (Gastonia, N.C.)

  13. Giuseppe Puebla, Florida, 2027 commit | Golf NIL High School Boys No. 5 - Qualified via Final Qualifying (Gastonia, N.C.)

  14. Logan Reilly, Auburn, incoming sophomore | Golf NIL No. 31 - Qualified via Final Qualifying (Rockville, Md.)

  15. Matthew Robles, Santa Clara University, incoming junior | Qualified via Final Qualifying (Sacramento, Calif.)

  16. Miles Russell, Florida State, 2027 commit | Golf NIL High School Boys No. 2 - Qualified via Final Qualifying (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)

  17. Jack Schoenberger, Kentucky, 2026 graduate | Qualified via local qualifying (Newnan, Ga.)

  18. Preston Stout, Oklahoma State, incoming senior | Golf NIL No. 1, $800K Golf NIL Valuation - Qualified via 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Individual Championship win

  19. Arni Sveinsson, LSU, incoming junior | Golf NIL No. 14 - Qualified via Final Qualifying (Westerville, Ohio)


Live coverage of the 2026 U.S. Open kicks off Thursday, June 18, at 6:30 a.m. ET (3:30 a.m. PT) on USA Network, with the four-day tournament airing across NBC, USA Network, and Peacock.

 
 

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