7 big names to miss US Open cut including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are just two of the marque names who missed the cut at this week’s U.S. Open, as Pinehurst No. 2 caught out a whole host of the world’s best players.

Much had been said about the brutal conditions the North Carolina course posed heading into the tournament, and it did not disappoint. The wild rough areas and lightening fast greens have proved to be tricky for those competing, leading to a halfway cut-line mark of five-over-par on Friday.

The Pinehurst track even almost caught out the No. 1 golfer on the planet in the ever-dominant Scottie Scheffler.

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The American has been in a league of his own so far in 2024, but almost saw his U.S. Open week end early, making the weekend by a single shot. A number of other of Scheffler’s biggest competitors were not so lucky, and here is a look at the key names who found themselves on the wrong side of the cut line.

Viktor Hovland (+6)

It was a week to forget for FedEx Cup champion Viktor Hovland. A number of changes to his coaching regime saw him endure a slow start to the season, having announced himself as the PGA Tour’s leading player a year earlier. He turned back to more familiar faces in recent weeks, allowing him to re-find his form, but he failed to bring his A-game at Pinehurst No. 2.

Hovland’s week in North Carolina got off to a nightmare start, after the world No. 5 carded an eight-over-par 78 in his opening round on Thursday. With plenty of work to do on Friday, Hovland limited the damage somewhat, shooting a two-under 68. This however left him a shot sort of the cut, ensuring he is heading home early.

Max Homa (+6)

Another member of the world’s top-10 to miss Friday’s cut was Hovland’s playing partner Max Homa. The American’s opening round was far from a bad one, as he ended his first 18-holes at one-over-par in testing conditions. Homa soon felt the brunt of the Pinehurst toughness though, struggling throughout day two to shoot a five-over 75 to join Homa in missing out on the weekend.

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Tiger Woods (+7)

It was a case of what could have been for the great Woods this week, after the 82-time PGA Tour winner missed the U.S. Open cut by just two shots. It was tough start in round one for the three-time winner, as he carded a four-over-par 74 on Thursday to leave him with work to do on day two.

And battling against the testing elements posed by Pinehurst, Woods went on to shoot a three-over 73 to ensure he would miss the weekend. The former world No. 1 gave himself a number of chances to make birdie in order to get himself on the right side of the cut line throughout his back nine, but sadly for Woods his attempts on the putting surface failed to drop.

Jason Day (+8)

Jason Day was another who weathered the storm provided by Pinehurst No. 2 well on day one, after sitting at over-over-par following his opening 18 holes. It was day two however that cost the former world No. 1 dearly, after Day struggled throughout Friday by carding a seven-over 77 to eventually miss the 36-hole cut line by two.

Dustin Johnson (+9)

Dustin Johnson’s struggles on the major championship stage continued at Pinehurst, after the LIV star missed a second cut in three starts at the flagship event. Johnson had a week to forget at the Masters after missing the cut by some way at Augusta National.

And this pattern followed on Friday, after the 4Aces captain carded a four-over 74 followed by a five-over 75 to end his tournament early.

Justin Thomas (+11)

Woods’ good friend Justin Thomas also failed to meet the mark required to play 72 holes this week. Thomas has struggled to find his best golf over the past year or two, and his battles out on the course continued this week. He followed up a dismal seven-over 77 on Thursday with a four-over 74 on Friday to miss his fourth cut in five major starts.