It’s been a whirlwind year for Naples native Noah Kent, and it’s about to hit another high point: a tee time Thursday at Oakmont Country Club for the 124th U.S. Open.
Kent, 20, earned his place in the field by finishing runner-up at the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship. That single result has launched the Gulf Coast High School graduate into elite territory.
“It doesn't set in,” Kent said. “I got a text this morning about everything you can do today, and it's kind of like, 'oh, wow. It's finally here.'”
This won’t be Kent’s first major championship. The University of Florida sophomore also competed in the 2025 Masters, where he shared a practice round with 67-year-old Bernhard Langer.
“I got to play with Bernhard Langer," Kent said. "I think we had a 47 year age difference between us. I was 20 and he was 67. I almost watched him make the cut, which is pretty unbelievable.
Kent said that that experience — his first Masters — taught him lessons about patience and perspective that he can take to the U.S. Open.
“Realizing that golf is really, really, really, really hard and to take your time with everything,” Kent said. “Everything doesn't need to be like a race. To do things like this at 20 years old, it doesn't really come that often, so just try to soak it up as much as you can."
His journey to Oakmont actually started years ago, when he was just 11 years old at the 2016 U.S. Open at the same course — not as a player, but as a volunteer helping set pin locations with then-USGA executive director Mike Davis.
“Now nine years later, I'm 20 and I'm playing in it, and so it's pretty cool," said Kent.
The following year, Kent had a brief encounter with his golf hero, Rory McIlroy, that changed his life.
"At Erin Hills, I got to spend, like, five minutes with him and I was just like, wow, this would be pretty cool to play like golf for a living."
That conversation sparked Kent's desire to be a golfer, not a hockey player.
Everything came full circle this spring when Kent was paired with McIlroy for a practice round.
"That was probably one of my favorite days ever," said Kent. "It was just him and I. It was anything a 20 year old could probably ever ask for."
Kent said he would want to tell his 11-year-old self, "I wouldn't say you made it, but I would say your dreams are becoming a reality. There will be some people that tell you that you can't do it. But all you need is your own belief and a strong support system around you, and you'll both do things you want to do."
When asked what it will be the moment to be able to say he "did it," his answer was simple.
"Making the cut this week," he said, laughing. "It would put into perspective that I can actually do it."
Kent tees off on Thursday, June 12, at 8:35 a.m.
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