Five years ago, Marcus Plunkett had a choice: sign up for another five-year stint in the Army or chase his dreams as a professional golfer.
Plunkett picked the latter, and now, the 32-year-old veteran out of West Point is on the cusp of playing the weekend in his major-championship debut.
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Playing his final seven holes on Friday at Royal Birkdale in 1 under, Plunkett put together rounds of 70-71 to get in the clubhouse at 1 over, one stroke inside the projected cut line at this 154th Open Championship.
“When I got out of the Army and kind of embarked on this journey, like this was the goal for sure,” Plunkett said. “I got out and just wanted to see how far I could take this. Very grateful and just feeling very fortunate and lucky to be in a position like this.”
Plunkett, who is from St. Louis Park, Minnesota, played college golf for the U.S. Military Academy and upon graduating from West Point in 2016, he served five years in the Army as a transportation officer. He spent his first year in South Korea before transferring to Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He also did a six-month deployment in Afghanistan.
Toward the end of his military service, Plunkett started playing golf again after nearly four years without picking up the clubs. He won the club championship at Fort Carson’s course, Cheyenne Shadows, by firing a record 62-64.
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When he was discharged in May 2021, Plunkett dove into the mini-tours, where he spent a few years before his first breakthrough. He won the Dakotas Tour money list in 2024, then earned Korn Ferry Tour status through Q-School later that year. However, he made just eight of 20 cuts and finished No. 134 in points, losing his card. He recently turned his focus to Asia and has posted five top-15s in seven starts this year between the Asian and Asian Development tours.
Plunkett, who punched his Open ticket via a T-4 at the Dundonald Links final qualifier, entered this week ranked No. 777 – triple sevens!
“I was lucky enough to be around some really high performers while I was in the Army and had guys serve under me that were great, saw counterparts that were great, bosses that were great,” Plunkett said. “I think the thing that separates a lot of people in the military, if you take out the physical fitness aspect – because everyone needs to be physically fit – is just being able to stay calm under pressure and make sound decisions. That’s definitely something I try to carry with me.”
Plunkett tapped into that fortitude after missing four of his first five fairways, each of his first four greens and finding himself 2 over after just seven holes on Thursday. Things could’ve easily gone sideways from there for the Open first-timer, only he fought back, pushing his drive up toward the green at No. 9 and rolling in a 4-footer for birdie. He added another birdie, from 25 feet at the par-4 16th, to end Day 1 at level par.
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On Friday, Plunkett started the same with two bogeys and no birdies through seven holes. He clawed back again, with another birdie at No. 9 and a tap-in birdie at the par-5 14th.
Plunkett didn’t have a par save longer than a few feet down the stretch. His final putt was just an inch long.
With his fate not completely certain, Plunkett asked reporters to keep their fingers crossed for him. The odds, however, were in his favor: Plunkett’s dream week will likely continue.
“I grew up playing it as a kid,” Plunkett said of this game. “It’s one of the few things that I found that makes me feel alive. When I’m playing competitive golf, especially here at The Open, I am right there in the moment. I think that’s what keeps calling me back to try to get better every day.”
Image for The 154th Open – Round 2
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The 154th Open – Round 2
The second round of The 154th Open is underway at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.
Plunkett’s goal coming in was to stay in that moment, though he admits the goal might be adjusted: “Maybe try to back door a good finish or something.”
Plunkett has kept his phone on do not disturb all week and promised not to turn the setting back off until his championship was finished.
Considering the amount of messages he’ll get now, another great choice.
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