Hughes earned his fifth U.S. Open start by shooting 9-under-par 133 in the final qualifier held at Royal Oaks and Lakewood country clubs in Dallas, Texas. His lone PGA Tour victory to date is the 2016 RSM Classic in a playoff over Blayne Barber, Billy Horschel, Henrik Norlander and Camilo Villegas. He also won the 2016 Price Cutter Charity Classic on the Web.com Tour (now Korn Ferry Tour). A former member of Team Canada, Hughes won the 2011 and 2012 Canadian Amateur titles. He played at Kent State and won the 2011 Mid-America Conference individual title. He also represented Canada in the 2012 World Amateur Team Championship.