John O’Leary, PGA, Director of Golf at Trump National Golf Club – DC, has earned his spot in the 2026 U.S. Senior Open. The 46th edition of the championship runs July 2–5 at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, and O’Leary got there by working through two rounds of USGA qualifying this spring.
It was his second time taking a run at the Senior Open. Last year he advanced to the local qualifier but didn’t make it through. A triple bogey on the 17th hole ended his day. This spring he came back. At his local qualifier at The Homestead in early April, he shot a 68 and earned medalist honors. Advancing him to final qualifying at Manor Country Club.
At Manor, O’Leary shot another 68 to finish second and punch his ticket to Ohio. He birdied the first hole, made key par saves on 7 and 8, and then went on a birdie run through 10, 11, and 15. He hit it to two and a half feet on 17 and missed the birdie putt, then knocked in a two-footer on 18 to close it out.
He was watching the leaderboard from about the 10th hole on. By the time he made the turn and birdied 15, he knew he was in.
“I kind of knew once I birdied 15, I knew I was good. I knew after 15 if I just parred in I was going to be alright,” said O’Leary
O’Leary has competed in three PGA Championships, so preparing for a major is familiar territory. His approach at Scioto won’t be complicated. He prefers playing to get his game in shape rather than grinding through range sessions. He plans to fly to Columbus Sunday morning, get a full round in Sunday afternoon, and use Monday through Wednesday for short game work and getting comfortable with the golf course.
His caddy at Manor was Ryan Patrick, a club member and close friend. Patrick can’t make the trip to Ohio, so O’Leary will have another familiar face on the bag: Billy Berman, his former head pro, who is flying in from Los Angeles for the week.
His goal at Scioto is straightforward: make the cut, have fun, and represent his club and the MAPGA well.