Frankie Capan III may have headed into the 2024 US Open without a particularly big profile, but his performance more than hinted that could well be a thing of the past before much longer.
The American carded an impressive one-over 71 at Pinehurst No.2 in the opening round before following that up with an even better display in the second round, with 70 to ensure he comfortably made the cut by four shots, ahead of the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, who failed to make it to the weekend.
While Capan III’s performance on an extremely challenging course made people sit up and take notice, it’s not the first time he has achieved success there, while he has been quietly building an impressive career in recent years.
Here are some facts you may not know about the 24-year-old.
1. Capan III was born on 9 November 1999 in North Oaks, Minnesota
2. In his early years in Minnesota, Capan III played ice hockey. However, it wasn’t for a great love of the game, but to improve his golf swing during the winter months when he couldn’t make the course.
In a post on alabama.fanworld.com, he wrote: “Unfortunately, there was just no way I could play all year long unless I wanted to trudge through three feet of snow in 10-degree weather. As a result, I also played hockey. But in all honesty, it was mostly to work on my golf swing. As I found out, there are a ton of similarities. Who would have guessed, huh?"
3. Because of the need to play golf all year round, his family eventually relocated to Arizona, where Capan III attended Northwest Christian School, while returning to his home state during the summer months
4. In 2012, he was a standard bearer at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale
5. While in high school, Capan III valeted cars for six months at Silverleaf Golf Club, and has recalled parking cars for Adam Hadwin and Jon Rahm during his time in the role
6. He began his collegiate career at the University of Alabama before heading to Florida Gulf Coast for his final two seasons
7. He won the 2016 AJGA Puerto Rico Junior Open, which earned him a place in the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open later that year. However, he missed the cut by one shot in his maiden PGA Tour start
8. Among his other achievements as an amateur were victories at the 2017 US Amateur Four Ball at Pinehurst No.2, while he was the individual Division III State Champion the same year. In 2020, he won the Minnesota State Amateur.
9. He began his collegiate career at the University of Alabama before heading to Florida Gulf Coast for his final two seasons
10. Capan III turned professional in 2022
11. He earned partial exemption status to the Korn Ferry Tour for the 2023 season
12. His mom, Charlynn caddied for Capan III through all three stages of Q-School
13. His Major debut came at the 2023 US Open after he came through final qualifying, but he missed the cut at Los Angeles Country Club
14. In his second season on the Korn Ferry Tour, Capan III made headlines when he hit a 58 in his first round of the Veritex Bank Championship in Texas, beating Scottie Scheffler’s course record
15. Later in 2024, Capan III qualified for the US Open for the second straight year, again through final qualifying. He didn’t even seem fazed by his 36-hole marathon on “golf’s longest day,” commenting afterwards: “I could probably do a workout right now and feel just fine!”
