Westchesters James Nicholas chasing home-state U.S. Open moment

James Nicholas has been here before, so he’s doing his best not to get overly excited. The 29-year-old, who grew up in Scarsdale, qualified for his first U.S.Open a year ago at Oakmont, where he shot a 1-under-par 69 in the opening round, which had him tied for sixth. Nicholas followed that with a 78 in the second round, which was enough to make the cut and play the weekend, finishing tied for 61st at 19 over par. This time around, Nicholas, who plays his golf on the Korn Ferry Tour, expects more from himself in what he hopes are the next three rounds. He opened with a 1-over-par 71 on Thursday at Shinnecock and is tied for 29th entering Friday’s second round, trailing leader Wyndham Clark who is 6-under through 16 holes as his opening round was suspended due to darkness. “Last year after Round 1, I was T-6 in the U.S.

Open, then Round 2, I struggled, because I put all that pressure onto myself, and you have expectation,’’ he said.“I talked to my mental coach, Joe Perron, about fear of failure.

It’s something that I struggle with.I want to do so well.

Once I put myself in position, you get scared, you have this fear of failure.’’ Nicholas is leaning into his 2025 Oakmont experience to make his Shinnecock experience better. “I got my first taste of a U.S.Open last year at Oakmont, and that was a lot different than this year for many reasons, one being this is my home state,’’ Nicholas said Thursday.

“You dream about playing in your home state, your home U.S.Open.’’ Accentuating this experience of playing near home with family and friends in the gallery, Nicholas struck the first tee shot of the 126th U.S.

Open at 6:45 a.m.amid the morning fog, something he called “an honor.’’ “You dream of hitting the first tee shot under some pressure,’’ he said.

“I didn’t hit the best one, but I ended up making a par and just to kind of continue the day with a lot of grit was pretty cool.’’ Nicholas actually seized t...