Why amateur Gordon Sargent has a pivotal weekend ahead at 2023 U.S. Open

Gordon Sargent has a big weekend ahead of him in Los Angeles.

There’s a chance he could be on the doorstep of securing a PGA Tour card.

Sargent, the top-ranked amateur in the world who’s set to begin his junior season at Vanderbilt in the fall, is sitting at 16 points in the PGA Tour University Accelerated standings. He has earned two points this week, one for making a start in the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club and another Friday after making the cut, moving closer to the 20-point threshold.

If Sargent gets to 20 points by the end of his junior year, he will earn PGA Tour membership. And there’s a chance he could do that before officially hitting a shot representing the Commodores this fall.

Sargent sits at even-par 140 after two rounds of the U.S. Open, tied for 30th. If he were to place in the top 20 come Sunday night, he would earn two more points. Then he’s only two points away, but barring something unforeseen, Sargent will earn those two points later this summer representing the United States on the 2023 Walker Cup team.

Gordon Sargent’s ball speed with driver today:
190
184
190
192
196!!
192
192
189
192
190
That’ll do. @VandyMGolf

— Cameron Jourdan (@Cam_Jourdan) June 17, 2023

PGA Tour U Accelerated was created so high-achieving juniors, sophomores or freshmen could earn PGA Tour membership and become eligible for all open, full-field Tour events. Last month, Ludvig Aberg became the first golfer to earn a PGA Tour card through PGA Tour U, making his professional debut last week at the RBC Canadian Open.

And Sargent, the 2022 NCAA individual champion, is well on his way to becoming the first to earn a Tour card because of Accelerated.

Even if he weren’t to finish in the top 20 this weekend, he could earn the remaining four points in numerous ways. He’s essentially a lock to make the Walker Cup team, so that leaves two points left to earn PGA Tour membership.

He could earn a point representing the U.S. in the 2023 World Amateur Team Championship, set for Oct. 18–21 in Abu Dhabi. He was a member of the team last year in France. There’s also three points available at the U.S. Amateur and two at the Western Amateur. Additionally, if he were to make a start in another major or PGA Tour event, that’s one point each. Make the cut, another point.

It seems unlikely that Sargent wouldn’t get to 20 points before the end of his junior season. Nevertheless, it’s a big weekend for him chasing a PGA Tour card.