World No. 2,047 Noah Maclauchlan, a first alternate who wasn’t supposed to be here, just won the U.S. Junior Amateur. World No. 7 Miles Russell, who defeated Tyler Mawhinney 2 and 1 on Friday, playing 30 holes at 14-under to advance to the final, was the clear favorite to win against Maclauchlan. Yet on Saturday, the opposite happened.

Maclauchlan birdied his way to a commanding lead, finishing 6-up after 31 holes. Russell tried to catch up with a par on the 29th, but Maclauchlan’s 8-foot birdie on the 31st sealed the deal, giving him a 6&5 victory in the 36-hole final over the amateur he is 2,040 spots behind. It’s absurd. It has yet to settle in for Maclauchlan, who had his younger brother, Liam, on the bag.

“I don’t really have words right now. It’s pretty surreal. Pretty unbelievable to call myself a U.S. Junior champion,” Maclauchlan said following the win, as per Golf Digest. It was, according to the USGA, the first time in history that two lefties were playing the final 36 holes in the event. It was also the third biggest margin of victory since the championship moved to a 36-hole final in 2005.

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It almost didn’t happen, you see. In fact, Maclauchlan, who called the championship “the most memorable,” wasn’t even in the field.

A few weeks ago, Maclauchlan ended up as the first alternate qualifier for the U.S. Junior Amateur. He wasn’t going to make it to the field if not for Rawlin Sutter, who earned an automatic spot at the U.S. Junior Amateur after a win at the Alabama State Boys Junior, thus freeing up a spot. That spot went to Maclauchlan, who was admittedly grateful.

“I owe Rawlin Sutter a special thanks. I’m sure I’ll text him later and probably give him a call,” the Liberty University freshman said. The USGA introduced the Trophy this season, renaming it in honor of Tiger Woods, and Maclauchlan is the first champion to lift it. Not only that, but this single win has earned a spot in next month’s U.S. Amateur and next season’s U.S. Open.

Russell, who was already exempt for the U.S. Amateur field, remained positive. “Kind of gave it my all there towards the end, and second 18 just really couldn’t get anything going,” he said after the loss. Russell had nothing but great words for Maclauchlan: “It was a great week. He definitely played better than I played, so I mean, he deserved it.”

Just last month, Miles Russell finished T39 at the U.S. Open and made it to the Walker Cup team even before finishing high school. He has also broken several Tiger Woods records. This week, he won a silver medal.

Meanwhile, for Maclauchlan, things are just getting exciting.

Noah Maclauchlan is looking to pair up with Rickie Fowler or even Max Homa

Noah Maclauchlan will be in the 2027 U.S. Open field. While it is true that he will try his best to be one of the amateurs to make the cut, Maclauchlan is looking ahead to something else, too. Like pairing up with Rickie Fowler or Max Homa during the practice round that week. He also name-dropped two-time Masters champion Rory McIlroy, who needs no introduction.

“Oh man, I think like Rickie Fowler. That would be so cool. Or like Max Homa. Those are kind of the guys that I like right now. Obviously, if I got paired with Rory [McIlroy] that would just be unbelievable. And that still hasn’t really sunk in yet, but it’s just the way things worked,” Golf Digest quoted him as saying.

Maclauchlan, whose name will be etched in the Tiger Woods Trophy alongside Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, and others, became the second-lowest-ranked player to win the U.S. Junior Amateur, according to the USGA. He will make his major debut next season.