COVERAGE: Vogt’s Oakmont Homecoming Captures National Attention

OAKMONT, Pa. — As Matt Vogt walked off the first green at Oakmont Country Club on Monday, he paused and was taken aback by a young fan holding a U.S. Open pin flag, requesting his signature.

A few holes later when signing more autographs, he reunited with his Seneca Valley High School baseball coach, who was back in town after moving in 2003.

Vogt, 34, was only further taken aback upon entering an interview room where nearly every seat was filled with local and national media desiring to hear his story, stating how wild it was while acknowledging everyone.

While the last week-plus has been hectic for Vogt, it really has been nothing but smiles, for a local who is returning to a course where he caddied for six years.

“Honestly, with the restoration work here at Oakmont and everything going on with the Open, I try not to even pay attention to it because I knew that it was an absolute pipe dream to get here,” an honest Vogt deduced. “It is for the best pros in the world, let alone amateurs. So, I almost didn’t want to think about it too much. I’m still trying to like soak it all in, but also not get too sentimental about it because it’s incredible.

“Even as I just talk about it now, I get sentimental on it. This place means so much to me. The members are incredible. I’m just indebted to this place, and I’m so grateful.”

In comparison to his caddying days, Vogt estimates the rough is about four to five inches higher. Both he and his Monday practice round playing partner Chris Gotterup spent as much if not more time in the rough by the greens trying to see how shots would come off the club.

It is a definite contrast caddying for a player versus yourself facing the course, let alone one of the most demanding in one of golf’s majors.

As a caddy he had the opportunity to play Oakmont Monday nights and admittedly he did not appreciate that opportunity as much as he could have. He now believes he should have played every Monday, but when he did play, it was until dark.

“Reading the greens now, just being a different person, player, golfer, it’s hard,” revealed Vogt. “Sometimes using your eyes out here doesn’t work. So, trying to use your feet, trying to look from the sides really as you’re walking up and around the greens, it’s different than just maybe telling someone, a 10 handicapper, ‘Hey, kind of hit it up in here and have fun.’

“The restoration work, all these little fingers and little additions to the sides of the greens, those have changed some of the visuals around some of the edges of the greens too, so they get a little tricky.”

Vogt secured his U.S. Open by medaling at the Walla Walla, Washington sectional, firing two consecutive rounds of 68.

Though Vogt now resides in Indianapolis, it was a tip from a member he had a connection with who told him his game would fit well at Wine Valley Golf Club, that encouraged him to take a chance on a trip out West.

“If you can find any little edge in one-day qualifiers, not just U.S. Open qualifying, but U.S. Am, U.S. Mid-Am, anything, if you find any little edge, I think you should take it because one-day qualifiers are really, really hard,” he determined. “It did give some confidence. I talked to the guys in the shop when I went there, and I said, ‘How did you guys get this?’ They said, ‘We just wanted to do it. We want the publicity. We want people to know who we are.’

“It was firm, fast, long. So, I knew that under those conditions, I could hopefully drive it really long and straight, hit really high long irons into those greens, and it paid off. Knowing that in Ohio, Columbus, Canada, that’s a murderers’ row of Tour pros, and I have confidence in myself, but you try to get away from those guys as much as you can. Again, I’m fortunate that it paid off.”

Emotion and surprise are likely the two most dominant characteristics for Vogt’s time back at Oakmont thus far since arriving Saturday.

Vogt has never played in front of more than 100 people and Monday that figure was unquestionably higher, something very noticeable to an individual who in 2018 started his own dental practice, the Dentists at Gateway Crossing in McCordsville, Indian.

Between his story going public during last Monday’s sectional and subsequent interviews, including one on the nationally syndicated Pat McAfee show, he has seen an increase in interest for his practice.

With Father’s Day this weekend, emotions were heavy for Vogt given his dad’s recent passing from colon cancer, which has him wearing a blue ribbon. He is unsure of how to fully deal with it all but between friends, coaches and a mental coach, he has found perspective to be present.

“Anyone who’s lost a parent, you feel these brief spurts of emotion, I think, from time to time,” Vogt said. “Gosh, I say a prayer every night for people who have been affected by cancer. It’s a horrible, horrible thing.  Over the past few months before his passing, you could see it was starting to take a toll. So, it’s emotional, but honestly, I know he’s in a better place. He was beginning to suffer, and that’s something no one ever wants to see. Although I wish he was still here with us, and yes, I’m sure this weekend will be emotional.

“There’s a sense of peace among our family, and I hope he’s at peace as well because it was hard. It’s a unique time in my life where, yes, my father passed, and I miss him dearly, but I have this beautiful 15-month-old daughter and a wife who supports me in pursuing this and doing these kinds of things. I thank God every day for them. I really do. I thank God for everything in my life.”

Of course nothing is promised beyond two rounds for Vogt, but one thing is for sure, there will be plenty of gratitude and what he hopes is some good golf.

No matter how it shakes out, Vogt’s story has captivated people, even if that is a fact that has not fully sunk in yet for him.

Despite not fully being sure just how inspirational his story is, when the USGA contacted him for interviews, he said he would do any that were asked of him.

This was an introduction for many to just who Matt Vogt is, and if this continues, expect to hear the name throughout the week.

“I’m not sure why there’s so much interest and why it resonates, but I suppose maybe it’s because people are inspired,” he said. “I guess that’s one of my goals in doing all this this week, besides obviously doing the best I can in the golf tournament, is just to inspire some people, to let them know that it’s never too late to try to pursue something in your life that you think is really cool and it’s something you want to do that other people think might be foolish or might be a waste of your time or maybe don’t believe in you. So maybe that’s why.”

OF NOTE

Ryan Fox won last week’s RBC Canadian Open in the fourth playoff hole over Sam Burns earning an exemption into this year’s U.S. Open. Both Cameron Young and Bud Cauley each earned spots in the field with their top 60 rankings.

Each was already in based upon making it out of the Columbus final qualifying sectional. Now instead, the other two alternates in Chase Johnson and Eric Cole joined the field.

The USGA stated that it held six spots for golfers who had not previously qualified. Johnson, Cole, Takumi Kanaya, Doug Ghim and Riki Kawamoto are ow set to tee it up come Thursday.