The most terrifying shot of the U.S. Amateur at Merion might have already happened

Drue Nicholas, a 23-year-old golfer from Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, has already achieved a lot in the world of competitive amateur golf. In 2025, he became the first player since Jay Sigel to win both the BMW Philadelphia Amateur and the Philadelphia Open in the same year. In 2026, Nicholas confirmed his status by winning the Philadelphia Open in a playoff and qualifying for the U.S. Amateur at Merion with a two-under round at the Llanerch Country Club qualifier.

However, nothing could prepare him for what he faced on Monday morning. The U.S. Amateur is a marathon golf week filled with white-knuckle moments for the world's best amateur players, whether it's 17-year-old Miles Russell or 34-year-old accounting professor Brett Patterson. But the most terrifying shot of the week might belong to Nicholas.

The Drexel University graduate became a member of Merion in April and was given the honor of hitting the opening tee shot at this week's U.S. Amateur at his home club. On Sunday night, he struggled to sleep, envisioning both embarrassment and grandeur.

"I was nervous. I didn’t sleep great," Nicholas said on Monday. "When I woke up, I felt good. I was a little nervous and it was tough getting to sleep, but it was all right."

As he approached the tee box, Nicholas, who is used to playing in big amateur events, felt a type of nervousness he had never experienced. "I was really nervous. I was nervous to make contact with the ball," Nicholas said. "Just shaky. It’s like I had a lot of caffeine, but I didn’t have any caffeine. Just overly jittery."

Nicholas pegged it at the 353-yard opening par-4 and took several deep breaths. The crowds following Merion’s local hero are bigger than Nicholas is used to. He said he had around 40 friends and family walking with him this week at his home course. Nicholas said he could feel the support from the crowd but also that it elevated his already high stress levels.

"The first couple holes, with people walking around, I’m not used to that. It was a little different, but I got used to it," Nicholas said. "I was really nervous because of it."

Nicholas stared down the first fairway with a host of supporters crowding the tee box. He took a deep breath and unleashed what he hoped would be a memorable strike. It was, but not in the way he envisioned.

The ball sailed right off the club and landed in the rough, leading to an opening bogey. "Probably when I saw the ball going right. I was just like, 'Damn.' Really disappointed in that effort there," Nicholas said, laughing. "But it was a great experience, once in a lifetime."

The hand-numbing nerves hung around for six holes, Nicholas said. He hit a nice 5-iron into the third hole for birdie to settle in, but then made a double bogey on the par-4 fifth. He turned in three over but made birdies at 11 and 12 to shoot a one-over 71 and give himself a chance to make the cut for match play.

That will require Nicholas to go low on Tuesday afternoon at co-host Philadelphia Country Club, where the nerves are expected to be significantly lower now that he has already faced the hardest shot of the week.

"Maybe a touch," Nicholas said about facing less pressure in Round 2. "The first day is always a little bit more stressful."

Even more so when you’re asked to hit the most important shot on home turf.