Nobody will feel more at "home" at Pinehurst than Michael McGowan, a first-time U.S. Open participant who grew up just a few miles from the resort. McGowan, who advanced through local and final qualifying, comes from a legacy of golfers, starting with his grandmother, Peggy Kirk Bell, who along with husband Warren "Bullet", grew Pine Needles Resort & Lodge into a world-glass golf facility that has hosted four U.S. Women's Opens and a U.S. Senior Women's Open. The late Peggy Kirk Bell was one of the LPGA Tour's pioneers who won the 1940 Titleholders, then a major, and later received the 1990 Bob Jones Award, the highest honor bestowed by the USGA. She also was on the 1950 USA Curtis Cup Team and is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame that now resides in Pinehurst. Her late daughter, Bonnie who died of cancer in 2023 at 68, married PGA Tour professional Pat McGowan (they met at Pinehurst during 1977 PGA Tour Q-School), a former Brigham Young University standout who became the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 1978. The 15-year PGA Tour player never missed a cut in four U.S. Opens, including a tie for 13th in 1983 at Oakmont Country Club. Michael's uncle, Kelly Miller, is a veteran of many USGA championships, including the 1996 U.S. Amateur when he lost to eventual runner-up Steve Scott in the Round of 16. Miller, who married Peggy Bell, now runs the day-to-day operations of Pine Needles. Michael followed his dad's footsteps into professional golf, but is still trying to excel at the game's highest level. He played collegiately at the University of North Carolina, the alma mater of Bonnie (passed away in 2022) and qualified for match play in the 2006 U.S. Amateur. Since turning pro in 2015, he has competed on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica, PGA Tour Canada and the Korn Ferry Tour. The U.S. Open will be his first start in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event.
