Shinnecock Hills delivered exactly the type of examination the U.S. Open is famous for, and some of golf’s biggest stars paid the price.
After two demanding rounds at the historic New York venue, a host of major champions and fan favorites failed to survive the cut line, proving once again that the U.S. Open remains one of the toughest tests in professional golf.
While several elite players positioned themselves for a weekend charge, others saw their championship dreams come to an abrupt end on Friday.
Among the most notable casualties were former U.S. Open champions Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, who both failed to advance after difficult second rounds. Defending champion J.J. Spaun also missed the cut, ensuring there would be no title defense this weekend.
For Rahm, the exit came as a major surprise.
The Spaniard entered the tournament as one of the favorites after recording two LIV Golf victories this season and finishing runner-up at the PGA Championship. His championship began in promising fashion with an opening-round 68 that placed him firmly in contention.
However, everything unraveled on Friday.
Rahm struggled throughout the second round and carded a disappointing 78. A damaging stretch on the back nine saw the two-time major champion play five holes in six-over-par, ultimately dropping him outside the cut line.
DeChambeau’s departure was equally disappointing.
The LIV Golf star battled hard to keep his tournament alive after a difficult start to the week. Despite fighting back and giving himself a chance on the final hole, DeChambeau narrowly missed a birdie putt that would have extended his championship.
Instead, he finished one shot outside the cut line and became one of the biggest names heading home early.
The missed cut also continues a troubling trend for the former U.S. Open champion. DeChambeau has now missed the cut in each of the first three major championships of the season, marking the first time in his career that he has endured such a difficult run at golf’s biggest events.
Defending champion Spaun also failed to mount a successful title defense.
After opening with a disappointing 77, the American was unable to recover despite producing an eagle during his second round. A series of costly bogeys ultimately left him well short of the weekend.
Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka was another high-profile casualty. The American continued to show flashes of strong form but could not produce enough birdies to offset costly mistakes, finishing his tournament at ten-over-par.
Also missing the cut were major winners Shane Lowry, Cameron Smith and Patrick Reed, while several Ryder Cup stars including Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay and Min Woo Lee also saw their weeks come to an early conclusion.
There were emotional exits as well.
Adam Scott’s remarkable streak of 100 consecutive major championship appearances ended in disappointment as the former Masters champion failed to survive the cut. Meanwhile, Rickie Fowler’s long wait for a maiden major title continues after another early exit.
While many stars struggled, Shinnecock Hills also highlighted those capable of mastering one of golf’s most demanding venues.
The leaderboard heading into the weekend features multiple major champions and proven PGA Tour winners, a result that will likely please USGA officials after months of discussion surrounding course setup and scoring conditions.
With the field now significantly reduced, attention turns to the players who successfully navigated Shinnecock’s punishing fairways, thick rough and lightning-fast greens.
For Rahm, DeChambeau and several other major champions, however, the 2026 U.S. Open will be remembered as a week of frustration and an early trip home from one of golf’s toughest championships.