One of the most demanding US Open courses in years claimed many high-profile victims on Friday, with Phil Mickelson, Viktor Hovland, Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson ALL missing the cut.
The greens at Pinehurst have been relentlessly tough for this year’s competition, and the sweltering weather has also played a part, but leader Ludbig Aberg has taken it in his stride to post a -5 score in the first two rounds.
Players like Bryson Dechambeau and Rory McIlroy are also up there and in contention heading into the weekend, after surviving many scares in North Carolina.
Unfortunately for several top players, it hasn’t been that easy, with a host of big names missing the +5 cut, including several former champions.
Consider also the man who underpins the ranking at +20: Charlie Reiter, the man known as the longest hitter in professional golf!
Phil Mickelson finished the second day of the US Open 20 shots off the lead at Pinehurst.
Viktor Hovland worked hard in very difficult conditions to miss the cut after the second round.
Tiger Woods will not play this weekend after two days of trouble in North Carolina
Among the stars with a +6 or worse card were:
- Justin Rose +6 (former US Open champion)
- Victor Hovland +6
- Max Homa +6
- Tiger Woods +7 (15-time major champion)
- Webb Simpson +8 (former US Open champion)
- Will Zalatoris +8
- Rickie Fowler +8
- Jason Day +8
- Dustin Johnson +9 (former US Open champion)
- Gary Woodland +10 (former US Open champion)
- Justin Tomas +11
- Lucas Glover +13 (former US Open champion)
- Phil Mickelson +15
Scottie Scheffler almost made it, but he’s been far from his usual self.
Dustin Johnson played with leader Ludvig Aberg, but was far behind his rivals.
There was good news for some other former champions, however, as Matthew Fitzpatrick and Brooks Koepka slipped right into the +5 cut line.
Another man at his side is Scottie Scheffler, the big favorite to win the tournament after his victory in the Masters.
So it was a big surprise to see him so far down the rankings, but he slips away tied for 57th, with Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry and Collin Morikawa at his side.
Scheffler is worryingly 10 shots off the leaders at Pinehurst and is not expected to challenge for the win this weekend, although stranger things have happened.