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Adam Scott gets exemption for U.S. Open, keeps majors streak intact

PINEHURST, N.C. -- Adam Scott's streak in major championships is intact after the United States Golf Association awarded him an exemption Monday to compete in this week's U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.

Scott, who is ranked No. 61 in the Official World Golf Ranking, was one of six golfers added to the field on Monday. The top 60 in the OWGR make the U.S. Open field.

Scott became exempt after the USGA removed the late Grayson Murray (No. 59) from the list for qualifying purposes. Murray died by suicide on May 25.

Scott, the 2013 Masters champion, will play in his 23rd consecutive U.S. Open and 92nd straight major championship, which is the second-longest streak in men's professional golf history. Jack Nicklaus played in 146 consecutive majors from 1962 to 1998.

Scott has qualified for next month's Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Course in Scotland and has a lifetime exemption to the Masters as a past champion, so his streak could reach at least 94 straight.

A week ago, Scott had walked off the 36-hole U.S. Open qualifier in Springfield, Ohio, as the first alternate after losing in a playoff to Cam Davis for the final spot from that site.

"Leaving from Springfield, there was a lot of uncertainty, I would say," Scott said Monday. "By Friday, and fully understanding how this field works, I was feeling a lot better about myself. It's funny, not having been in that position there is a lot to finding out how a field gets filled. And it's complicated.

"I'm grateful I haven't been in this position too much."

Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, who moved to No. 41 in the world after claiming his first PGA Tour victory at the RBC Canadian Open on June 2, also qualified for the U.S. Open field.

LIV Golf League captain Sergio Garcia was one of four alternates from final qualifying added to the field. Amateur Brendan Valdes, an All-American at Auburn this past season, Otto Black and Maxwell Moldovan are the others.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.