Who’s the dentist playing the U.S. Open? 1 answer tells his story best

OAKMONT, Pa. — Matt Vogt peered around the white tent, at the cameras, cellphones and notebooks all at the ready in anticipation of his words, and somehow his first five summed up both the scene of his first-ever U.S. Open press conference and his feelings a half day into a surreal week.

This is pretty wild, guys.  

Amen, brother. 

Minutes earlier Monday, he’d practiced ahead of the proceedings that start Thursday here at big, bad Oakmont, though the track’s best known to Vogt as being a former employer and about a half-hour away from where he grew up, so that’s part of things here. There’s also this — just eight days ago Vogt was better known as Dr. Vogt, a dentist based just outside of Indianapolis and one who, by all accounts, can fill a cavity easier than you can fill a divot. On that first Sunday of June, he was in Walla Walla, Wash., which he touts for their wine and was the site of an Open final qualifier the next day. You know how things went, since Vogt’s at Oakmont: Last Monday, he won the thing, and he was heading back home, for a major.

“Yeah, it’s been crazy,” Vogt said. 

His day job is the headline, of course. Seven years ago, he started his own practice (the Dentists at Gateway Crossing, if you’re in need of a cleaning), and business is good — one of his clients is a producer on the popular “Pat McAfee Show,” which led to a recent appearance by doc, which has led to some inquiries for tips on putting and flossing. 

But Vogt’s also a stick. How couldn’t he be? Growing up, he caddied at Oakmont, and you see some things, though Mondays you saw it all, as they’d let the loopers play. “Honestly, we did not appreciate that as much as we should have,” he said. “I mean, thinking about it now, we should have been here every single Monday, but I’d be lying if I said we were.” Still, he said pro golf wasn’t much of a thought. For a couple years, Vogt played on the Butler University golf team, before settling into dentistry and mid-am golf life. 

“Maybe I didn’t dream big enough or maybe, I don’t know, I just never quite had it,” the 34-year-old said Monday. “I played around a lot of guys who you could tell had it and had a chance to make a shot at professional golf. It never really crossed my mind.

“Now I’ve said this a few times in some interviews, but trying to pursue amateur golf, trying to compete at whatever level that is and get to whatever level I can get to is just, it’s almost like a challenge to myself, like what can we do? I don’t know what that is.”

In late April, Vogt survived local qualifying. 

Then Walla Walla. Vogt’s a bit of a banger off the tee — he dabbled in long drive at one point and Monday, his tee balls kept up with the pros — and Wine Valley Golf Club looked forgiving. Two 68s later, he was your medalist. That night, a week ago, he slept two hours. Tuesday, he flew home. Wednesday, he settled things in the office. Thursday, he packed. Saturday, he got in and assessed things. The rough? It’s everything you’ve read about, he said, sitting at about four to five inches higher than his caddie days. And the green complexes? Tricky, he said. 

But what about the autographs?

“So the coolest part is seeing kids out there,” Vogt said. “They might know who I am, they might not. They just know I’m playing golf inside the ropes, and maybe they’re thinking about doing it themselves someday or just chasing their dreams. They’re probably out here with their parents and making memories and having experiences.

“It’s a true honor to be a part of that, to just see kids like that and, I guess, make a good impression on them here on the golf course. Yeah, I signed my first autograph this morning, and I’m like, OK, I’ve got to do this today? It’s been awesome. It’s been awesome.”

One autograph made him look up, he said. 

He’d had a father-son thought. He’s been getting those. 

A few months ago, his dad died due to colon cancer. Sunday will be his first Father’s Day without him.

“Although I wish he was still here with us — and yes, I’m sure this weekend will be emotional — there’s a sense of peace among our family, and I hope he’s at peace as well because it was hard,” Vogt said.

“It’s a unique time in my life where, yes, my father passed, and I miss him dearly, but I have this beautiful 15-month-old daughter and a wife who supports me in pursuing this and doing these kinds of things.”

At his press conference, I asked Vogt why he thought his story resonates with folks.

He summed that up well, too. 

“I’ve said a number of times this week that I’m not sure — I don’t know,” Vogt started. “I’m not sure why I’m talking to people. I’m not sure why there’s so much interest and why it resonates, but I suppose maybe it’s because people are inspired.

“I guess that’s one of my goals in doing all this this week, besides obviously doing the best I can in the golf tournament, is just to inspire some people, to let them know that it’s never too late to try to pursue something in your life that you think is really cool and it’s something you want to do that other people think might be foolish or might be a waste of your time or maybe don’t believe in you. So maybe that’s why.” 

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