They came to the US Open as top picks to win golf’s second major championship of the year. Many left Friday as victims of Shinnecock Hills’ punishing layout — failing to make the 8-over cut.
Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, and John Rahm all missed out on the weekend after sportsbooks had pegged them as strong contenders.
McIlroy, listed at 14/1 behind only Dustin Johnson, was the biggest surprise. The 2011 US Open winner shot his worst round ever at this event, turning in a 10-over par 80 on Thursday. After the round, he rushed by reporters refusing comment. He did better on Friday, posting an even par 70, but it was still not enough to make the cutline.
Jason Day, who entered as an 18/1 pick, shot a 79 in the first round and likewise couldn’t recover on Friday. He finished 12-over and missed the cut by four strokes.
“The wind was strong and with those pins, you can’t get it close,” Day said after the first round. “I’m not complaining; Shinnecock is hard. You’ve got to hit fairways and I didn’t, so that’s why I didn’t play well.”
Jon Rahm was another who was expected to do better. He was listed at 22/1, but after rounds of 78 and 77, he went home earlier than expected.
Woods Still Struggles
Woods, a three-time US Open winner listed at 16/1, could not solve Shinnecock’s first two holes, and it cost him a chance to compete on the weekend. On Thursday, he went triple bogey-bogey on Holes No. 1 and No. 2 en route to an 8-over 78. Friday he bogeyed both of the opening holes. He finished 10-over par and missed the cut by two.
“I didn’t play the first and second hole very well,” Woods said Friday to reporters. “How about that? It was tough out there early. Wind was blowing. It was raining a little bit, and I was kind of hanging in there until, unfortunately, first and second hole kind of derailed it.”
The issue for Woods again was his putter. He had 58 putts over 36 holes, including a four-putt from 40 feet on No. 13 in the first round.
“Unfortunately, it’s just what I’ve done the last few events,” Woods said. “I just haven’t putted well. You know, if I would have putted like I did the beginning of the year with this ball striking, that would be ideal. Unfortunately, I just haven’t done that.”
Mickelson Rallies, Spieth Falls Short
It looked like midway through Friday that Phil Mickelson would need to make plane reservations on Saturday. The two were in danger of missing the cut, but mounted impressive comebacks to get to the weekend.
Mickelson, 25/1, opened with a 7-over 77, and halfway through his second round he was at 9-over. He then rallied with three birdies to finish with a 69 and ensure he would play on the weekend.
Spieth looked like he would pull off a miracle to make the cut. At one point in his second round he was at 12 over, but then made four consecutive birdies to get below the cutline. He then made bogey on his last two holes to finish at 9 over and miss the cut by one.