A look at the South Carolina players in U.S. Open

A look at the eight players with South Carolina connections in the field. Kevin Kisner could make it nine if he is ranked in the top 60 in world rankings released on Monday.

State connection: Greenville native, played at Clemson

How qualified: Former U.S. Open Champion

U.S. Open history: Won 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black. Otherwise, he has a T48 and a T52 and six missed cuts in nine appearance

2015 season: Has made the cut in 12 of 19 PGA Tour events with five top-25 finishes. He ranks 120^th in FedEx Cup points, 131^st in earnings and 414^th in the world.

Comment: Has won three PGA Tour titles, the 2005 Funai Classic at Disney World, the 2009 U.S. Open and the 2011 Wells Fargo Championship. In the 2012-14 seasons, he struggled, missing the cut in 41 of 65 tournaments with four top 25s.

State connection: Grew up in Greer, lives in Greenville

How qualified: Qualified for 2014 Tour Championship and in top 60 in the world golf rankings on May 25.

U.S. Open history: This will be seventh U.S. Open, and he has missed the cut three of the previous six. His best Open finish is T23 in 2011

2015 season: He is among the most consistent players annually, and 2015 is typical. He has won once, has eight top-25 finishes in 14 starts, ranks 18^th in FedEx Cup points, 21^st in earnings and 22^nd in the world.

Comment: Despite his overall consistency – six wins plus the 2011 FedEx Cup – he has not been a consistent factor in major championships. But his shot from the water that led to his win in the 2011 Tour Championship and FedEx Cup is one of golf’s most memorable.

State connection: Resides in Charleston

How qualified: Qualified for 2014 Tour Championship and in top 60 in the world golf rankings on May 25.

U.S. Open history: Will be playing in his fifth Open. He shared low amateur honors in 2010 and finished T42 a year later before turning professional. He missed the cut in 2013 and had a T60 a year ago at Pinehurst.

2015 season: Has made the cut in 14 of his 16 PGA Tour starts, finishing in top 10 three times and in top 25 on seven occasions. Ranks 43^rd in both FedEx Cup points and earnings and 54^th in the world. Has two tournament wins in his two and one-half seasons on the PGA Tour.

Comment: He became the first PGA Tour rookie in 12 years to win his debut, putting together a record-setting performance (24 under par) to win the Sony Open in Hawaii. In 2014, he won the Honda Classic in a four-man playoff that included Rory McIlroy.

State connection: A native of Columbia, he played at Dutch Fork High and Coastal Carolina

How qualified: Among top-10 finishers in 2014 U.S. Open and among top 60 in world rankings on May 25, 2015.

U.S. Open history: Playing in his seventh Open. He finished T8 in 2010 and T4 a year ago. He led the 2010 Open by three strokes after three rounds but he skied to an 82 over the final 18 holes.

2015 season: Since ending his leave of absence in February, has made the cut in 10 of 12 starts, winning once, finishing second in another tournament with six top-10s and eight top-25s. Is ranked seventh in FedEx Cup points, fourth in earnings and seventh in the world

Comment: If anyone is “due” to win a major, he is. Has eight top-10s in 23 major starts and saw three golden opportunities – the U.S. Open and PGA in 2010 and the British Open in 2011 – slip away.

State connection: Born in Greenwood, lives in Greenville and played at Clemson

How qualified: Among top 60 in world rankings on May 25, 2105

U.S. Open history: This will be his third U.S. Open, his first as a professional. He missed the cut in his amateur appearance, 2009 and ’10.

2015 season: Notched his first PGA Tour victory in the season’s second event, the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. He has added top 10s in the Arnold Palmer Invitation (5^th), the Players (T4) and at Colonial (T10). Strong season has him ranked 13^th in FedEx Cup points, 14^th in earnings and 53^rd in world.

Comment: Career has been climbing since a late-season spurt in 2012 earned him full status on 2013 Web.com Tour. Won two Web.com tourneys in 2013 and fashioned a solid 2014 on the PGA Tour with three third-place finishes and finishing 76^th in FedEx Cup standings.

State connection: Grew up in North Augusta, plays for South Carolina

How qualified: Advanced through local and sectional qualifying

U.S. Open history: First U.S. Open

2015 season: A junior on the Gamecocks’ nationally ranked team, he won the individual title in two tournaments, the Hootie at Bulls Bay and the SEC Championship, and finished in top 20 in eight of USC’s 12 events. He compiled a 70.51 scoring average, second best in USC history, and earned All-SEC honors again. He is ranked 25^th among college players and 46^th among amateurs worldwide by Golfweek.

Comment: He comes into the U.S. Open with perhaps the most impressive performance in the 36-hole sectional qualifying. He earned medalist honors in the competition at Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ball Ground, Ga. with a 17-under-par 127 for 36 holes. “I couldn’t have played better,” he said.

State connection: Played at Clemson

How qualified: Advanced through sectional qualifying

U.S. Open history: Earned berth in the 2011 U.S. Open through local and sectional qualifying. He missed the cut at Congressional.

2015 season: Earned a spot on the 2015 PGA Tour through the 2014 Web.com Tour money list. Best performance came in Puerto Rico Open in which he finished tied for second after losing in a playoff. He is ranked 142nd in earnings, 143^rd in FedEx Cup points and 322^nd in the world.

Comment: Best known as Arnold Palmer’s grandson early in his career, he is moving upward in the golf world on his own merits. He is perhaps the most unexpected medalist from the sectionals; after missing the cut in the Memorial Tournament, he used his caddie’s iron in the sectional qualifying and shot a pair of 66s.

State connection: Played at South Carolina

How qualified: Advanced through local and sectional qualifying

U.S. Open history: Six months after turning professional, he qualified for the 2010 Open at Pebble Beach through local and sectional qualifying. He missed the cut.

2015 season: Earned berth on 2015 Web.com Tour through qualifying school and put together his best tournament of the year last week in the Greater Dallas Open, finishing 14^th. A second-round 63 highlighted that performance. Is 111^th on the money list and ranked 712^th in the world.

Comment: An alternate for the sectional qualifying, he had no real hopes of being able to compete. But a spot opened and he capitalized with rounds of 66-65—131 to lead all competitors. Close to the cut line, he birdied four of his final six holes.

Bob Spear