Photo by: 2017 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images
Former NFL running back Danny Woodhead moved on in local qualifying for the U.S. Open after shooting an even-par 71 at Omaha Country Club on Wednesday, according to Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.
Woodhead earned one of the five final qualifying berths, and if he fully advances through the local qualifying, he will move on to final qualifying. Local qualifying is being held nationally at 109 locations, while final qualifying is concentrated to 11 sites.
The 2022 U.S. Open is being held in Brookline, Massachusetts, on June 16-19 at The Country Club.
Woodhead, 37, spent nine seasons in the NFL with the New York Jets (2009-10), New England Patriots (2010-12), then-San Diego Chargers (2013-16) and Baltimore Ravens (2017), rushing for 2,238 yards and 15 touchdowns in his career. He was as much a weapon in the passing game, catching 300 passes for 2,698 yards and 17 scores.
But Woodhead turned to golf after his NFL career, qualifying for 2021’s U.S. Amateur Four-Ball tournament at the Chambers Bay Golf Course in Washington.
On Wednesday, he finished in a two-way tie for third place, notching four birdies during his round.
#NebGolf @NGAgolf
The kick save. <a href=”https://twitter.com/danny__woodhead?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@danny__woodhead</a> rolls in the birdie putt on No. 17 to get to -1. He finishes at 71 (E), second-lowest in so far. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/USOpen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#USOpen</a> | Local Qualifying <a href=”https://t.co/xPEB3TSmmQ”>pic.twitter.com/xPEB3TSmmQ</a>
#NebGolf @NGAgolf
🥇 Medalist<br>Corbin Mills (<a href=”https://twitter.com/binomills?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@binomills</a>)<br>6️⃣7️⃣ (-4)<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/USOpen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#USOpen</a> | Local Qualifying <a href=”https://t.co/NQ7YqRin2y”>pic.twitter.com/NQ7YqRin2y</a>
#NebGolf @NGAgolf
Four Other Qualifiers<br>Heading to <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/USOpen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#USOpen</a> Final Qualifying<a href=”https://twitter.com/ConnorPeck25?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@ConnorPeck25</a> 70 (-1)<a href=”https://twitter.com/danny__woodhead?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@danny__woodhead</a> 71 (E)<a href=”https://twitter.com/CarsonSchaake1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@CarsonSchaake1</a> 71 (E)<a href=”https://twitter.com/alex_schaake?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@alex_schaake</a> 72 (+1) <a href=”https://t.co/ajQpx3h6VH”>pic.twitter.com/ajQpx3h6VH</a>
Per Christopher Price of the Boston Globe, Woodhead will now compete in the final qualifying at the the Springfield (Ohio) Country Club on June 6.
“Only four years, but it’s been a lot of hard work. … I was able to see a little glimpse last year making the final four of the state match play,” Woodhead told Stu Pospisil of Omaha.com about his development as a golfer. “I just want to keep getting as good as I can. That’s my whole goal. We’ll see what happens, but the next month I’m going to be grinding to get ready for sectionals and see what happens. Maybe I just grind to a couple of good scores.”
