Troy Taylor II looks to qualify for spot in 2025 U.S. Open

• Westerville South graduate Troy Taylor II will compete in a U.S. Open qualifier at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club on June 2.
• Taylor aims to qualify for the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, having previously attempted qualification in 2018 and 2021.
• The 25-year-old professional golfer won the 2024 APGA Farmers Fall Series and secured his spot at Kinsale by winning a local qualifier in Michigan.

The next stop on Troy Taylor II’s professional golf journey takes him to a course about 15 miles from where he attended high school.

Taylor, a 2018 graduate of Westerville South, will play in a 36-hole U.S. Open qualifier at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club in Powell on June 2. He hopes to earn a berth in the 125th U.S. Open, which will be played June 12-15 at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh. 

The son of former Ohio State basketball player Troy Taylor Sr., the younger Taylor is driven not only by qualifying for the U.S. Open but someday joining the PGA Tour.

“This is just another step in the right direction,” he said. “I have 36 holes of playing in a U.S. Open (qualifier), so that’s a cool opportunity. I haven’t been close in getting through, but it’s been good opportunities to see where my game is. It’s a mini-PGA Tour event in a sense.” 

Taylor, 25, was a standout golfer in high school before going on to play at Michigan State. He turned pro in July 2023 and joined the Advocates Professional Golf Association Tour, which was established in 2010.

Taylor also participated in U.S. Open qualifiers in 2021 and 2018 as an amateur, but failed to advance.

He secured his spot at Kinsale by earning medalist honors at the U.S. Open local qualifier at Eagle Eye Golf Club in Bath Township, Michigan, on May 5. He said he won’t know the finish he needs to qualify for the U.S. Open until days before the Kinsale event.

Taylor has enjoyed success on the APGA Tour, winning the 2024 APGA Farmers Fall Series and earning his first professional victory in the APGA event at Seaview Golf Club in New Jersey last year.

“That was exciting,” said Taylor, who had six top-10 finishes in nine starts last year. “I was close a lot of times. I was always in the mix. I had a couple of seconds and thirds and then it was nice to finally get the monkey off my back. … I finally connected all the dots.” 

Taylor’s high school career included finishing fifth in the Division I state tournament as a junior and finishing in a six-way tie for 21st as a freshman. 

He remains in contact with K.C. Murphy, his former coach at South.

“Troy has earned everything that comes to him,” Murphy said. “He’s extremely hardworking. The dedication he has is unbelievable. He just has the determination and he has a heck of a skill set. There’s a lot of great golfers out there, but unless you have what he has, the drive and the willingness to just keep going, that’s where a lot of guys fall short.” 

After graduating from Michigan State in 2023 with a degree in advertising management, Taylor knew he wanted to turn pro.

“I want to play golf forever, so I’m all-in on golf and not thinking about the second choice because as soon as I do that then I’m probably giving up on myself,” he said. “I feel like I’m going to make it, so I’m just focused on golf.” 

Taylor also credits major sponsors such as Farmers Insurance, Cisco, Ralph Lauren, Titleist, FootJoy and Body Armor because they “keep a burden off me” financially, he said. “I can just go play and develop my game and not worry about bills and other things that come around.” 

The most credit, however, goes to parents Troy Sr. and Sheila Taylor of Westerville for helping their only child pursue his dreams. Troy Sr. played basketball at Ohio State from 1981-85. 

“They made a lot of sacrifices,” Taylor said. “Golf is probably one of the most expensive sports to play. I just try my very hardest to try to be the best player and person that I can be to try to hopefully pay them back one day and just knowing that I gave it my all. I’m super appreciative of them.” 

High school sports reporter Frank DiRenna can be reached at [email protected] and at @DispatchFrank on X.