Waiting game: Whether established pro or garage door salesman, 'alternate' status at U.S. Open is the same for everyone

Each year when the U.S. Open rolls around, USGA makes sure to trumpet the fact it truly is an “open” tournament. Anyone who has the golf chops, in theory, can qualify.

Seneca Valley grad Matt Vogt made national headlines as “the dentist from Indiana” who qualified for this week’s 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. But, if the cards fall right, the dentist from Indiana might be trumped by the garage door salesman from Texas.

John Peterson, out of competitive golf for six years, is among the alternates present at Oakmont Country Club. If a qualified player withdraws from the field, the spot goes to an alternate. The alternates are chosen from the various U.S. Open final qualifying sites.

Peterson, who said he now plays “once or twice a month,” decided to take a shot at sectional qualifying in Springfield, Ohio, but came up short of the final qualifying spot. Zac Blair earned the site’s final berth in the U.S. Open via four-man playoff.

“First alternate at my site, historically, has had a great chance of getting in,” Peterson said. “I figure at worst, we come up here and wait it out, play a couple of practice rounds, see all the guys. … I haven’t seen them in forever. So at the very minimum, we’re just enjoying it.”

Peterson is no stranger to majors. In his major championship debut, he tied for fourth at the 2012 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club. His week included a hole-in-one.

Peterson played in only two other majors — another U.S. Open and the Masters — but he made the cut in both of them.

A wrist injury derailed his career, and he retired in 2019, settling into his garage door business. He was wearing the company logo on his shirt during his practice rounds at Oakmont.

But unless there are enough withdrawals, Peterson will still be a garage door salesman come Thursday afternoon, when the final groupings tee off.

Whether a former, current or aspiring PGA Tour player, the alternates are in the same boat at Oakmont this week. So they try to make the best of the situation.

For a player such as Max Theodorakis, his status as an alternate at Oakmont is a learning experience. He has not been an alternate for a tournament at any level, so his preparation in and of itself is good on-the-job training.

“This is all new for me,” said Theodorakis, a native of Danbury, Conn., who is a five-time winner on the Minor League Golf Tour. He was the first alternate from sectional qualifying at Canoe Brook Country Club in New Jersey. “Even if I don’t get in, it’s a good experience just to be here.”

Even seeing his name on a placard as he warmed up on the driving range, he said, was surreal. But he wasn’t so swept up in the moment that he didn’t take time to look around and let a few things sink in. Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka was warming up just two spots down from him on the range.

“I’m a pretty good learner. I’m a visual learner, so I watch some guys and see what they do,” the 27-year-old said.

Even some established pros such as Colombia’s Sebastian Munoz are forced to play the waiting game. Munoz, a 13-time major championship participant who won the 2019 Sanderson Farms Championship on the PGA Tour, is a member of LIV Golf (Team Torque).

Munoz was the first alternate from the Rockville, Md., qualifier. He was an alternate once on the PGA Tour at Colonial, and his waiting turned out to be in vain.

“It’s difficult,” he said. “I was pretty emotional after not getting in, but I think I learned from it so I’m a little more patient this time.”

So Munoz, as the other alternates did, went about his business: hitting on the range, playing practice rounds on the course. And waiting.

There might not be a tee time to be had, but, for some players, the mere chance to wait is a reward.

“I’d really love to get in,” Peterson said. “This is a perfect golf course for me. I’m real good off the tee, and I’m a good iron player. … I play my best in hard conditions and hard courses. But at this point, at 36, with competitive golf behind me, I’m just thrilled to be here, and, if I get in, awesome.”