Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen fitting right in as Penguins embrace youth movement
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — There was a moment in the Penguins' locker room following Saturday's practice at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex that was too precious to ignore, and also may have subsequently told the story of the day.
Rutger McGroarty, who immediately became the best Penguins' prospect when he was acquired in August, finds his stall beside Sidney Crosby's in the locker room. Even better, McGroarty looks to be playing on Crosby's left wing when the Penguins host the Senators on Sunday, which happens to be McGroarty's 21st birthday.
Advertisement
McGroarty's personality is larger than life. He's smart. He's funny. He's personable. He's got loads of charisma. He's so cool, the kids would say he's got rizz. If he can play at all — and I think he can — he's going to be a very popular young man in Pittsburgh sooner rather than later.
There's only one recent problem: McGroarty fought once in the AHL, and it didn't go so well.
FIGHT. Rutger McGroarty vs Michael Buchinger!
McGroarty made contact with Thunderbirds goaltender Colten Ellis at the side of the net, drawing the ire of Buchinger.
McGroarty eventually obliged the request, but didn't fare well against Buchinger in the fight. @InsideAHLHockey pic.twitter.com/PbpKbjtTrV
— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) February 23, 2025
McGroarty had already met with the media, who had walked about two feet to the left for the usual gathering with Crosby.
Before Crosby could start, however, McGroarty was still chatting away.
'Anyone see my fight?'
I'm not sure who he was talking to, maybe all of us. We nodded.
'It was so bad,' he said with a laugh. 'I ran their goalie, and then we fought. And …'
McGroarty explained that he couldn't get himself maneuvered properly to throw a punch.
'And he just hammered away,' McGroarty said with a laugh. 'It was awful.'
Crosby, who was patiently waiting for the questions from the media while we were all enjoying McGroarty's undeniable enthusiasm, finally chimed in.
The Penguins' captain looked at McGroarty and asked, 'Was he bigger than you at least?'
Michael Buchinger, who pummeled McGroarty, is listed at 6 feet and 185 pounds.
McGroarty is listed at 6-1, 203.
'Yeah, it's always worse when the other guy isn't bigger,' Crosby said with a grin.
The interaction between the two was endearing, and it's also necessary.
What parts of Sidney Crosby's game does Rutger McGroarty want to try and emulate?
'I mean, seriously, everything. Like, actually, everything."
Potentially playing on a line with the captain in an NHL game on his 21st birthday is one heck of a gift. Hear from the rookie ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/kGl9IPyPOl
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) March 29, 2025
This is an organization that is desperate for an infusion of youth. And not just young players, but talented young players. And young players who feel like they belong.
McGroarty feels like he belongs. He doesn't come off as the least bit arrogant or entitled. There's just a confidence about him that you don't typically see in prospects, especially when sitting within five feet of a living legend.
Advertisement
To McGroarty's left sat Ville Koivunen, who will make his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. He'll be playing on the second line with Rickard Rakell serving as his center.
Only eight games are remaining in what is a lost season for the Penguins, but it's very much noteworthy that the organization has decided to let McGroarty and Koivunen play out the season in Pittsburgh before returning them to Wilkes-Barre for the AHL postseason.
Consider it symbolism. Or a change in philosophy. Or, maybe the Penguins have good prospects on their hands, something that hasn't been the case since Jake Guentzel exploded onto the scene in 2016.
• Typically, the Penguins wouldn't recall arguably their two most talented forward prospects with only eight games remaining in the season.
• Typically, they wouldn't immediately insert said two players onto the top two lines immediately upon their arrival.
• Typically, the Penguins' veterans wouldn't show this much eagerness about pushing for these two kids to receive heavy playing time.
Consider the conversation I had with Rakell, who is playing out of position to accommodate these two youngsters. It would be understandable if Rakell were annoyed by all of this, since he's having a career year while playing on Crosby's line. Now, he has to play an unfamiliar position on Sunday because of Evgeni Malkin's lingering injury.
If Rakell has a problem with it, he has a funny way of showing it.
'Let me tell you something,' Rakell said. 'These two kids, they should be playing in the top six right now. I'm glad they are. You know why they should be? Because they're going to be top-six guys. They just are. You can see the talent. So why not play them there now? I'm glad.'
Rakell played with Koivunen enough in training camp to know what he needed to see.
Advertisement
'He's really fast and really good with the puck,' Rakell said. 'He just needs to play. He's really good.'
Bryan Rust offered similar sentiments about Koivunen and McGroarty being thrown into the fire.
'I think when you've got guys you plan on potentially down the road playing that role … when they get an opportunity, those are the players they probably play the best with,' he said.
The energy that McGroarty and Koivunen brought to the locker room was very clear after Saturday's practice.
'You always pay attention,' Rust said when speaking of the new guys. 'Obviously, prospects of pedigree are a little more interesting.'
Koivunen was unable to remove the smile from his face while talking about his pending debut. His parents and girlfriend were en route to Pittsburgh on Saturday.
McGroarty couldn't stop commenting on how welcome he felt.
'I've got Sid making small talk with me and Ville,' he said. 'Crazy stuff.'
Crosby has been waiting for this day. The Penguins didn't want to rush these two to the NHL, so they've let them strut their stuff in Wilkes-Barre. But make no mistake, Crosby and the veterans on this team who truly matter realize an infusion of youth is mandatory if the Penguins are to make their rebuilding process a brief one.
Crosby and the Penguins were in a funk during the 2015-16 season. Then along came Rust, Matt Murray, Conor Sheary, Tom Kühnhackl and Scott Wilson. A few months later, the Penguins won the Stanley Cup, and while that team was a lot better than this one, one thing can't be denied: The youth movement altered the dynamic of the locker room and Crosby, then 28, loved being the old man while showing the kids the ropes.
Now, Crosby is 37. The grin on his face while McGroarty was talking was mindful of the time when Rust and the others came along.
Advertisement
'Once upon a time,' Rust said, 'I wasn't one of those guys.'
Rust was explaining that he hadn't received the hype that McGroarty and Koivunen are receiving.
'Sid treated me just the same,' Rust said. 'That goes a long way.'
Rust gets it. So does Rakell. And no one gets it more than Crosby.
Those three fully intend on being in Pittsburgh when the Penguins return to glory. So does coach Mike Sullivan.
It's noteworthy, then, that Sullivan is throwing the two kids right to the top six. Rust is in favor of it. Rakell, too. And Crosby couldn't take the smile off his face all morning, even staying on the ice with the kids long after practice ended to work with them.
The Penguins aren't making the playoffs this season. There's a long way to go. The rebuilding is just beginning.
And yet, when you consider the surprising decision to bring these two to the NHL, and you see how welcome they are, and how eager the Penguins' best players are to welcome them, and with Sullivan throwing them into the fire as opposed to bringing them along slowly, you wonder if maybe this isn't a lost season after all.
(Photo of Rutger McGroarty: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
9 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Where will Mitch Marner sign? Here's where the Maple Leafs star could end up, and how he'd fit in
Maybe the Maple Leafs will decide to move on from Mitch Marner . Maybe Marner will decide life will be better elsewhere. No matter what happens July 1 , the hockey prodigy from Thornhill will be the most coveted free agent on the market since John Tavares seven years ago. Tavares, a former Islanders centre from Oakville, came home to play with Marner, Auston Matthews and William Nylander, forming the Leafs' Core Four. Now Marner could break up the gang, looking for riches or success elsewhere. Marner will be rich, to the tune of $13 million (U.S.) or more a year. Most teams have the salary cap space for him or can find a way to create it. The question is: Where will he land? He would make any team in the league better, but which one is going to win his services? Here are a handful of possibilities: GM Steve Yzerman followed the Leafs through the playoffs, and could believe his team is a Marner away from making the post-season. He's probably right. The Red Wings haven't made the playoffs in nine years but have come painfully close the last two seasons. Despite picking no higher than fourth in the draft (Lucas Raymond, 2020) in their nine wayward seasons, Yzerman has an array of young talent (Moritz Seider, Marco Kasper) that needs outside help to go further. It's not a sure thing that the Memorial Cup MVP will start next season in the NHL, but there should be opportunity. It's not a sure thing that the Memorial Cup MVP will start next season in the NHL, but there should be opportunity. Marner on the right side of centre Dylan Larkin could push the Wings captain to new heights, beyond his usual 30-plus goals a year. Detroit is a historic franchise with good ownership used to winning. It's also close to home for Marner. But even with a 100-point right winger, the Wings wouldn't be a serious Stanley Cup contender. From Jack Eichel to Alex Pietrangelo to Mark Stone to Noah Hanifin, Golden Knights owner Bill Foley is used to making a big splash and getting the shiniest bauble available. A quick look at their cap situation suggests the Knights don't have enough space, but it's never stopped them before. GM Kelly McCrimmon can be cutthroat, moving on from players quickly. Just ask Max Pacioretty, Marc-André Fleury or the recently repatriated Reilly Smith. Winning matters more than loyalty. It's part of Vegas's DNA , to always find a way to contend. Just imagine the magic that could develop between Marner and Eichel. Marner would be part of a Cup contender with an underrated fan base, but not one that will blame him for every loss. GM Kyle Dubas has a long-standing relationship with Marner, having drafted him in Toronto and giving him this six-year, $65.4-million deal that is expiring. And the lure of playing with Sidney Crosby — Marner's childhood hero — could prove too much to resist. Crosby made it clear in the 4 Nations Face-Off that he admires Marner's talent. Marner was giddy scoring an overtime winner on a pass from Crosby. The Penguins aren't exactly Stanley Cup contenders, now with a rookie coach in Dan Muse. But Marner would make the team younger and could get them back into the playoffs. And not that the 37-year-old Crosby needs a new lease on life — he had 91 points last season — but Marner might give him one anyway. Owner James Dolan has no patience for losing, and with the team failing to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021, he'll be on board with paying to make the team better. Marner would also be insurance with Artemi Panarin heading into his free agency year in 2025-26. The Rangers are deep at forward, so Marner wouldn't have to carry the load. But he could help get more out of Alexis Lafrenière or help revive Mika Zibanejad after an off-year. The renamed Utah Hockey Club is looking to make a big splash to reward fans for their support and to build loyalty by making the playoffs. The team built on the backs of the defunct Arizona Coyotes has some rising talent in Clayton Keller, Lawson Crouse and Dylan Guenther. Marner would be 'the man' on the Mammoth. Wouldn't that be a delicious turn of events for an Islanders fan base that saw their prized captain Tavares leave for Toronto seven years back? New GM Mathieu Darche, the former right-hand man of Tampa Bay GM Julien BriseBois, has plenty of cap space. The Islanders are a good but not great team that missed the playoffs this year. Marner, 28, fits in age-wise with players like Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat. The Kings have lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round in each of the last four seasons and might see Marner as a means to finally find a way to go deeper. New GM Ken Holland can set a new direction by adding Marner to a lineup rife with high-skilled veterans (Anze Kopitar, Kevin Fiala, Adrian Kempe) and burgeoning young talent (Quinton Byfield, Alex Laferriere). There is much less of a choice here with Marner than it once seemed, and Brad Treliving is the one who let it get to this point, writes Damien Cox. There is much less of a choice here with Marner than it once seemed, and Brad Treliving is the one who let it get to this point, writes Damien Cox. Lightning coach Jon Cooper loves Marner. He has coached him a couple of times at international events and will again next year at the Winter Olympics. Marner probably has a closer relationship with Cooper than he would with most opposition coaches. Who wouldn't want to play for a coach who appreciates your talent? It would take some cap magic, and maybe a trade or two, for Marner to land in Tampa, but BriseBois has found his way around the cap before. Marner, though, might have to take a back seat to Nikita Kucherov, the first-line right winger. And if Marner harbours any ill will toward the Leafs, going to Tampa could be some Machiavellian revenge.
New York Times
15 hours ago
- New York Times
On the NHL Draft, the Penguins, the combine and Porter Martone: Yohe's 10 observations
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Most of the NHL's general managers had already departed Buffalo by this weekend, as the conclusion of the NHL Draft Combine isn't required viewing. They made their visit to Buffalo, observed what needed to be observed, met the prospects they wanted to meet and then made their way home. Advertisement Kyle Dubas stayed a little longer. Dubas is not only the Penguins' general manager but also the president of hockey operations in Pittsburgh. While those titles illustrate Dubas' considerable importance to the Penguins' fortunes, the truth is he's a scout at heart. He missed many of his team's games last season because he wants the future in Pittsburgh to be special and was thus scouting draft prospects in every corner of Canada and the United States — and even Sweden — to see things for himself. This is Dubas' time to shine, so he stayed a little longer, got to know prospects a little better. Here are 10 observations on the Penguins and the draft based on what I saw at the combine, what I've been told by Penguins employees and conversations I've had with Dubas. • Dubas likes Porter Martone. A lot. Martone is a power forward expected to be drafted in the top 10 — maybe even in the top five — and does not figure to be available when the Penguins pick at No. 11. While Martone has dropped a bit in draft projections during the past few months, it would be a minor miracle were he to drop to No. 11, where the Penguins would absolutely select him. Most believe he'll go somewhere between No. 4 and No. 8. A power forward who dominated this season for the Brampton Steelheads (OHL), Martone played for Dubas and Canada at the recent World Championship in Sweden. Dubas likes to get to know all of the top prospects during this time of year but spent additional time with Martone in Buffalo even though he had gotten to know him in Sweden. 'Porter's different,' Dubas said with a smile. • The Penguins possess the assets to comfortably move up in the draft, should they choose. They have one second-round pick and three third-round picks. They have three second-round picks and two third-round picks in the mighty 2026 draft. They also possess a handful of veterans that teams around the league would love to acquire. Advertisement Will Dubas trade up to secure Martone? It's hard to make such a prediction and I haven't been given any indication that this is the plan. It would, however, make some sense. The Penguins have finally found themselves legitimate quantity as it pertains to their prospects. They once literally had no prospects of note. Dubas would prefer to add some quality to all of that quantity. It's something to very much keep in mind. • Here's something else to keep in mind: Dubas wants the Penguins to become bigger and more physical. He knows how brittle his team has been the past couple of seasons and what a pushover it is for teams that play a more physical brand of hockey. I'd expect him to add some raw physicality to the organization in this draft. Martone is 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, and I suspect he'll go around 220 pounds when he fills out in a couple of years. He's big. He's nasty. He plays with an edge. He's got million-dollar hands, but he's not afraid to drop the gloves and use those hands to do damage. In short, he plays a bit like a Tkachuk. I'm not saying he'll be that good, but who knows? He looks pretty special. His hands are what I most notice. In theory, he would seem to be precisely what the Penguins need. He's big and physical, but also plays like a Penguin, if you will. Prospects such as Martone and Kashawn Aitcheson, an abrasive defenseman for the Barrie Colts (OHL), are two players who seem to fit the profile of what the Penguins need. They are, incidentally, two players the organization likes quite a bit. • One last thought on Martone: It's very clear that, while I'm sure he doesn't fancy the idea of dropping in the draft, he'd love to play for the Penguins. Like so many Canadian kids his age, Martone is very clearly a Sidney Crosby fan. He was gushing to anyone who would listen about getting to play on the same team as Crosby in Sweden last month. Advertisement Again, it's unlikely to happen. It's a top-heavy draft. Everyone will want those premium top-10 selections. But the Penguins have far more draft capital than other teams. Don't be shocked if they do something bold. • The Penguins have absolutely no clue what to expect in regard to the Rangers' No. 12 pick. They may deal it to the Penguins. Or maybe they won't. Absolutely nobody knows, including Dubas. I talked with Dubas about this last month in Sweden and he brought it up again over the weekend. Put simply, he's not losing sleep over it. It's a win-win for the Penguins either way. (It is a little bizarre that the Rangers have until 48 hours before the draft to make the decision. What a strange scenario.) • In conversations I've had with scouts and NHL executives, I've come to learn that one of the most interesting players in this draft is one of our own. LJ Mooney is from West Mifflin, Pa., and Logan Cooley's cousin. Ask Cooley, Vincent Trocheck or J.T. Miller, and they'll tell you Mooney is going to be a standout NHL player. His skill level is off the charts. So is his competitive fire. There is one problem, though. And it's a big one. Or a small one, to be technical: Mooney is only 5-7. Once upon a time, it was widely assumed that he'd be a first-round pick because of his raw talent and tenacity. Now many expect him to go in the third or fourth round. Fascinating player. Some teams won't take a kid that size, but it takes only one. • Everyone I've spoken with expects an early run on centers in the first round. This is pretty typical. The Penguins are certainly interested in centers such as Jake O'Brien and Brady Martin, both OHL standouts. Neither player is expected to be there when they pick at 11, however. If they don't trade up, a defenseman or winger might be the reasonable pick, especially if the run on centers goes as expected. Advertisement Given Evgeni Malkin's age and the shortage of talent at center in the organization, the Penguins would be happy to select one in the first round. But they don't want to reach. • Back to Aitcheson. He's someone to keep in mind when the Penguins pick 11th, if they don't trade up. He's an impressive kid, on and off the ice. There's a nastiness and a sturdiness to his game that the Penguins love. Let's be honest: On paper, the Penguins are soft. Really soft. Especially on the blue line. There is nothing soft about Aitcheson. Should the Penguins select him, they'd really have something brewing in their system, at least on their blue line. They love Harrison Brunicke, and for good reason. Finn Harding (Martone's teammate in Brampton) looks like a seventh-round steal last season. Two years ago, they took Emil Pieniniemi in the third round, and his stock is rising quickly. Don't forget about Owen Pickering. Bringing in Aitcheson would really solidify the Penguins defense in their system and allow them to focus heavily on forwards in the rest of the draft, should they choose that route. • Dubas is big on skill, of course. And he's always lumped in with analytics. When we think analytics, we don't think physical, tough players. We think purely of talent, right? Well, I'm telling you, Dubas wants the Penguins to be harder to play against. Something to keep in mind in this draft. • Dubas is kind of a rock star at the combine. The players all love him. Why? Well, let's count the reasons: As general managers go, he's so young (39). I imagine this makes him more relatable. Also, as general managers go, he scouts players far more than the others. He's always around tiny rinks in Ontario in January, and naturally players notice this. Many of these prospects are also from Toronto. You may have heard that Dubas is a pretty big name in that neck of the woods, especially for kids who grew up Maple Leafs fans. He's done well with limited picks in two drafts with the Penguins. In his third draft, he's got 10 or 11 picks to use, depending on what the Rangers decide. It's his time to go to work. He's certainly done his homework. (Top photo of Kyle Dubas: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
NBC Sports
2 days ago
- NBC Sports
Dentist carries father's memory with him into dream U.S. Open debut at Oakmont
Matt Vogt is a proud product of the Steel City. Born and raised just outside of Pittsburgh, Vogt inherited his sports fervor from his dad, Jim, who loved the Penguins and Steelers and Pirates and perhaps most of all, watching his only boy play golf. From those junior-varsity days at Strawberry Ridge Golf Course in Butler County to whatever Matt could find time for on his way to becoming a 34-year-old dentist, husband and father of a 1-year-old girl, Jim never missed a tee time. Even in recent years when Jim's declining health prevented him from physically attending his son's tournaments, there would always be several texts waiting for Matt after his round. Nice birdie! What the heck happened on 4?! Good luck tomorrow! But on April 6, those messages stopped. Jim Vogt was diagnosed with colon cancer last summer, and he was gone quickly, at age 65. 'These past couple months,' Matt Vogt said, 'I've just spent so much time praying for strength and trying to find it.' He found it in the most unlikely of places. Vogt, who now resides in Indianapolis, had never traveled to the state of Washington, let alone played golf there. But when he was scouting courses for U.S. Open final qualifying, held last Monday across the country, he knew he wanted to get away from the PGA Tour pros in Ohio and Canada, and Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, with its sprawling layout and wide fairways, looked inviting for a guy who may have Doctor of Dental Surgery tacked onto the end of his name but has also piped a long drive of 466 yards, albeit off the grid. Oh, how spot on Vogt was. A man of faith, Vogt wholeheartedly believes that we carry our loved ones with us long after they've passed, and far from home, Vogt pinned a dark-blue ribbon on his similarly colored Titleist hat and set off to make his dad proud. 'I knew I could do it,' said Vogt, who drafted off playing competitor Brady Calkins to the tune of back-to-back 68s, his 8-under total earning him medalist honors and one of two tickets, along with Calkins', to Oakmont Country Club, where he'd attended two U.S. Opens with his dad, in 2007 and 2016, and in between caddied a few years at the venerable club about a half-hour east of Pittsburgh. 'You know, Oakmont, Pittsburgh and everything there, it all means so much to me … and it took every ounce of energy in my body to not think about that all day. And I'm just so proud of staying present, staying in the moment. I feel like I'm going to wake up from a dream here in a little while and this isn't going to be real, but it is real.' And now, Matt Vogt is headed home. Vogt began caddying at Oakmont, the Henry C. Fownes masterpiece, just a few months before he joined Butler's men's golf team. Though he only competed three semesters for the Bulldogs, Vogt remained in Oakmont's caddie yard, nearly every day of every summer, until he started dental school at Indiana University-Indianapolis in 2013. 'It's just a special place,' Vogt said of Oakmont. 'I have such great memories of the membership and their guests, a lot of successful people who love and are obsessed with golf. … You walk around Oakmont as a kid, and you think about what it'd be like to play in championships there. You just kind of daydream.' Vogt never really dreamed about playing professional golf. He was realistic as a kid; he wasn't good enough, so the PGA Tour was never part of the plan. He stayed at Butler to finish his undergrad, mainly because he met his now wife, Hilary, there. After completing his doctorate, the couple remained in Indy, where in 2018, Vogt opened his own practice, the Dentists at Gateway Crossing in McCordsville. He chuckles at how he's been portrayed in recent days, as this dentist who grinds away five days a week, finds some time to hit balls after work and then somehow, qualifies for the U.S. Open. 'I want to be honest with everybody,' Vogt admits, 'I work with another dentist in my office; she's awesome, and my team is incredible.' Vogt spends two to three days in the office doing his clinical tasks. The rest of his work week includes some administrative duties, plus some consulting in which he teaches other dentists how to start or acquire their own practices. When Dr. Vogt is away competing against Scottie, Rory and Bryson in his first major championship, Dr. Maria Summers will hold the fort. 'But no matter how my U.S. Open goes, I'll be back to work the week after,' Vogt says. Vogt developed the itch to play competitive golf again during dental school. He debuted in the World Amateur Golf Ranking with a T-7 at the 2019 Indiana Open, and he's since finished third three times in the Indiana Amateur while adding a fourth-place finish at the 2022 Indiana Open. He also qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur two years ago, though his most proud accomplishment, at least prior to last Monday, was playing his first U.S. Amateur at Oakmont in 2021. Getting in as an alternate, Vogt earned the first tee time off Oakmont's 10th hole that first day, before storms brought torrential rains and softened up the terrain. He then proceeded to open with a quadruple-bogey 8, and his first-round 81 was 11 shots worse than playing competitor Parker Coody, though only about four strokes higher than the field average. While Vogt missed match play by six shots, he did bounce back with a second-round 68 at nearby Longue Vue. 'You play your practice round and learn that golf course, and then you step on the golf course when the tournament starts and find they've ratcheted the fairways and greens to 10s,' Vogt said. 'I was just way over my skis. I was that guy who was shooting a bazillion while Parker was legitimately trying to win the U.S. Amateur.' That U.S. Amateur also holds significance considering it was the last tournament that his dad saw him play in person. Not long after, Jim Vogt, already dealing with some minor health and mobility issues, suffered a stroke. His vision then deteriorated, and as a result, the man who'd shuttled Matt that half-hour to and from Strawberry Ridge countless times and traveled to 49 states in his lifetime had lost his ability to drive. The cancer prognosis, Matt describes, was 'very bad.' Yet, Matt's biggest fan fought long enough to hold his granddaughter, Charlotte Morgan, who was born Feb. 21. 'He was starting to suffer,' Matt Vogt recalls. 'The last couple months have been a mixture of sadness, relief that he's at peace, and kind of growing up and processing that my dad's gone and now I'm the dad for my daughter. I don't know if it's a maturity or a peace, but everything I felt last week, and what I've felt these past few months, is I'm glad he's in a better place.' Kevin O'Brien can unfortunately relate. One of Vogt's best friends and fellow mid-amateurs, O'Brien lost his father, Patrick, after a four-year cancer battle in February 2021, just months before he, too, teed it up at the 2021 U.S. Amateur outside his native Pittsburgh. In early April, O'Brien and Vogt were teaming at the Champions Cup in Houston when Vogt got the call that his dad didn't have long left. 'We played that final round with him knowing,' O'Brien said, 'and knowing what it felt like when I lost my dad, we were both emotional.' Less than three weeks after his dad's death, Vogt advanced through his local qualifier at Otter Creek in Columbus, Indiana, by a shot. Then in mid-May, he won the PGA Indianapolis Open by two. Then came the dream day in Walla Walla. If only he could read those texts. On Golf's Longest Day, O'Brien was at a mid-am tournament at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, where Vogt would've otherwise been if not for final qualifying. When Vogt threw a dart from the waste area to a foot with just a few holes remaining, O'Brien and over a dozen other guys gathered at the bar went nuts. Once it became official and Vogt was being interviewed, the setting sun illuminating just how much Vogt's eyes were welling, O'Brien shared in the sentiment. 'It was such an amazing moment,' O'Brien said. 'I'm impressed he was even able to hold it together.' Vogt had already made plans with his family to make the trip to Oakmont as a spectator, though he'd always hoped his priorities would change. Boy, have they ever. Video of Vogt's emotional reaction last Monday evening quickly went viral, and Vogt says he's received too many interview requests to count, though any unanswered questions can be addressed during his Monday press conference at Oakmont, where he's the only qualifier with formal interview time and slotted between Dustin Johnson and Xander Schauffele. On the two-hour drive to the airport on Tuesday morning, he phoned into ESPN's Pat McAfee Show. 'Nick, one of their producers, waived his HIPAA rights in telling everybody that I was his dentist,' Vogt said. Vogt squeeze in several more phone interviews on Wednesday, including which greatly appreciated the time. Vogt plans to stay with O'Brien, who lives just minutes from Oakmont, during championship week to help take his mind off the magnitude of this moment. (They'll surely spend some time discussing Aaron Rodgers' recent signing with the Steelers.) 'Overnight, this has just become something I've never dreamed of,' Vogt said, 'so I'm trying to surround myself with the people who know me best. I'm going to do my best to soak it all in but also do what I need to do to play my best.' O'Brien believes Vogt's best can contend – straight and powerful drives; Bryson-like putting, setup and all; a greatly improved wedging ability. 'He doesn't have a hole in his game,' O'Brien said. Added Vogt: 'I'm a different player than I was in 2021; I'm a better player, I know that, but I'm also playing with the best players in the world.' The pair got in nine holes, just them and the maintenance staff, on Saturday evening and were surprised at how normal it felt. 'We've both seen Oakmont enough,' said O'Brien, who sees the Fownes gem a few times a year for the Diebold Cup, an intraclub match that includes O'Brien's Pittsburgh Field Club and often serves as the testing ground for new pins and tees. 'And once the crowds get up and the cameras are there, it will take some getting used to, but we're just going to have fun and embrace it.' Jim Vogt never forced his son, Matt, to play golf. Never gave him a golf tip, either. He just cheered him on. And though Matt Vogt can no longer hear, or read, that encouragement, he can feel it, and he's strengthened by it. He'll carry that fortitude with him to Oakmont's first tee on Thursday, and no matter what this brute of a golf course throws his way, Vogt will be determined to make his dad proud. 'I wish he was here to share in this,' said Matt Vogt, 'but I know he's always watching.'
