U.S. Open Rd. 4 recap: Surratt gains confidence after first major start

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – Caleb Surratt closed out his first major championship Sunday with a final-round 74, finishing the week T63 at 13 over. The number wasn't where he wanted it to land.

The week, in his own words, was something else entirely.

"It was a great week," Surratt said. "I was very fortunate to have a very good opportunity to go play great this weekend and unfortunately didn't take advantage of it. I felt like I played really well, but just didn't score my best, and just have to clean up a few areas that got exposed this week."

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What Surratt took from his major championship debut wasn't about the scorecard. It was about how he carried himself across four days at one of the most demanding venues in golf.

"A massive takeaway is that I feel like I belong out here," Surratt said. "I felt very comfortable playing, and if I can continue to clean stuff up and get more comfortable, I think I can contend out here."

Asked what single lesson he'd carry into his next major, Surratt didn't point to a swing thought or a strategic adjustment. He pointed to his composure.

"Just the poise," he said. "I felt like I had a lot of nerves early in the week, and I don't really feel like I need that. I felt very at home this week. I actually felt a bit calmer out here than in tournaments I've been in recently. I think it's just the sense of wanting to play well but feeling like I put the work in and belong to be out here. I was very pleased, and yeah, I think at the next major it'll probably be a lot more freeing."

NOTES ON LIV GOLF PLAYERS

JOAQUIN NIEMANN, T7, 4-under 66 (1-over total)

The Torque GC captain finished T7 (1-over total) for the week after rounds of 78-65-72-66. The top-10 finish earned him an exemption into the 2027 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

TYRRELL HATTON, T7, 3-under 67 (1-over total)

Hatton closed with a 3-under 67 to finish T7 (1-over total) after rounds of 74-68-72-67. It was another strong U.S. Open showing for the Legion XIII star. The top-10 finish earned him an exemption into the 2027 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

DUSTIN JOHNSON, T32, 2-over 72 (6-over total)

Johnson, captain of 4Aces GC, finished at 6 over after a 66-77-71-72 week that began with him in early contention before the course caught up to him over the weekend. It marked his first made cut at a U.S. Open in three years.

LAURIE CANTER, T43, 3-over 73 (8-over total)

Canter closed his week at 8 over after rounds of 72-72-71-73, marking the Majesticks Golf Club star’s second consecutive made cut at the U.S. Open. The Englishman's ball-striking improvements under new coach Claude Harmon were on display throughout the week.

PETER UIHLEIN, T56, 4-under 66 (10-over total)

Uihlein closed his week at Shinnecock Hills with a 4-under 66, his low round of the championship, to finish at 10 over after a 74-70-80-66 sequence. It was his first major start since 2018, and Sunday's calmer conditions played a role in the turnaround.

"Drove it better. Greens were softer, more receptive, made some putts," Uihlein said. "Putting's tough when it gets that windy — it's so hard to make putts. So just putted a lot better and drove a lot better."

Reflecting on the week as a whole, Uihlein didn't sugarcoat the challenge of returning to a major championship setup after a long absence.

"It's hard. Shinnecock's hard. Tough test," he said. "I haven't played good really since February. So just to kind of get around in four days, I'll take it."

CALEB SURRATT, T63, 4-over 74 (13-over total)

The young Legion XIII star finished his first career major at 13 over after rounds of 75-69-75-74. The number wasn't what he wanted, but he left Shinnecock with newfound belief that he belongs on this stage.