Jaden Soong, 13, Vying to Become Youngest Golfer to Qualify for U.S. Open

There are always great Cinderella-type stories among U.S. Open qualifiers each year, but this one could be a record-setter.

Thirteen-year-old Jaden Soong, who is 5-foot-2 and weighs 115 pounds, has a 280-yard drive at the top of his list of credentials. If he’s able to qualify for the U.S. Open this week, he’ll be the youngest player in the history of that major. The current record is held by Andy Zhang, who was 14 when he made the 2012 U.S. Open.

Soong said:

“It’s pretty cool because golf is one of those sports where (size) really doesn’t matter. I mean, it definitely does matter, but not as much as like baseball, football, or something. It’s just really how strong mentally you are.”

Soong gained some notoriety when he sank a 12-foot putt in a playoff and celebrated with a fist pump that would make Tiger Woods proud.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Jaden R. Soong (@jadenrsoong)

Despite his small stature, Soong’s father, Chris, said that core-muscle training over the past year led to a power surge. In early 2022, Soong was hitting the ball 210-220 yards. Since working with a fitness coach, he’s added around 60 yards to his drives.

Jaden Soong, 13-year-old golf prodigy, could become youngest U.S. Open qualifier ever https://t.co/2jlZOpIoji pic.twitter.com/FONoLkeOvs

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 5, 2023

Soong has been on the radar of golf companies since 2017 when his father posted shots of the then 7-year-old’s drives to his Instagram page. So even if he doesn’t make the U.S. Open this week, we have likely not heard the last of this young phenom.

Cover Image Via Instagram