Who is Callum Tarren? 5 things to know about the surprising U.S. Open contender

Adam Hadwin leads the U.S. Open after one round, but Callum Tarren is among those tied for second (along with Rory McIlroy) and just one off the lead. But Tarren is no household name like Rors. Here’s what you should know about him.

History repeats itself

With qualifying rounds of 64 and 68, Tarren punched his first U.S. Open ticket to Pebble Beach in 2019. Rounds of 65 and 68 this year earned him a spot at The Country Club. This is his second major championship and also the second time that his clubs didn’t make it. In 2019, he borrowed fellow Englishman Tyrell Hatton’s, and this year, he played his first practice round with only a wedge. Maybe he’s getting used to this ritual, as his 67 on Thursday was six shots lower than his opening round three years ago. 

Turning his year around

After a strong showing at the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, Tarren finally made his jump to the PGA Tour, six years after turning pro in 2016. The PGA Tour rookie had a shaky start to say the least. His first eight starts of the year yielded seven missed cuts and one disqualification. Since then, he’s made six of nine cuts, highlighted by a fifth-place finish at the Puerto Rico Open. 

More than a major

Obviously, Tarren would love his first PGA Tour win to be a major, but winning is not the only thing on his mind. Currently ranked 179th in the FedEx Cup standings, he is 166 points out of the top 125 players who earn exempt status for the 2022-23 season. A third-place finish in a major would earn Tarren 210 points, safely moving him toward another year of job security. 

Staying young

It seems as though the Korn Ferry Tour’s “The 25” are getting younger and younger. Players in their early- to mid-20s are earning PGA Tour cards every year. Tarren isn’t quite a journeyman, but earning his Tour card at age 30 means he is getting to that point. (One month before he earned his Tour card, his daughter, Sofia, was born.)

Right at home

The Englishman grew up playing links golf, and the conditions at The Country Club emulate that style. “I’m pretty comfortable here,” he said. Don’t be surprised if he continues this strong play, as his strengths complement this golf course well. He is putting and scrambling better than he had all year, and his 310-yard driving average will provide him wedges into greens that are otherwise difficult to hold.