Bryson DeChambeau extended his U.S. Open missed-cut streak to 11 while Jon Rahm fell late, capping a brutal day for golf’s top names at Shinnecock Hills.
S. Open nightmare deepened Saturday, his streak of missing the cut stretching to 11 straight appearances at Shinnecock Hills. DeChambeau carded a 7-over-par 77 in round two, finishing at 11-over for the tournament and well clear of the 36-hole cut at 14 under.
S. Open. S.
Open at Los Angeles Country Club, where he tied for 27th. 1 and defending champion, was eliminated in dramatic fashion late Saturday. Rahm needed a bogey-free 68 to survive, but three-putt bogeys at the 15th and 17th holes derailed his round.
He finished at 3-over for the tournament, missing the cut by a single stroke. The exit marks the first time Rahm has missed the cut in a major as a professional. LIV Golf’s marquee names also fell short.
Talor Gooch (4-over), Brooks Koepka (5-over), and Cameron Smith (6-over) all finished outside the cut line. S. Open champion, needed a 65 to advance but managed just a 72, leaving him seven strokes behind the projected cut mark.
Smith, fresh off his Saudi International victory, shot a 74 in round two to fall to 6-over and out of contention. Rickie Fowler, playing in his first major since the 2024 PGA Championship, managed to survive the cut at 1-over, while Xander Schauffele (4-under) and Viktor Hovland (3-under) advanced comfortably. Fowler’s 69 in round two included five birdies, giving him a lifeline after a shaky opening round.
Patrick Cantlay, representing LIV Golf, was the highest-ranked player to make the cut, sitting at 2-under after two rounds. His 68 in round two included a crucial birdie at the 18th to secure his spot. Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee called Rahm’s collapse “a microcosm of the volatility that defines his game,” noting that the Spaniard’s inability to close out rounds has resurfaced under pressure.
Meanwhile, DeChambeau’s struggles were attributed to his ongoing issues with the putter, a trend that has persisted since his LIV switch in 2023. The cut line at Shinnecock Hills—known for its brutal wind and firm fairways—proved unforgiving for the game’s biggest names. Shinnecock’s history of humbling champions and upending favorites added another chapter, with Rahm’s exit joining past victims like Jordan Spieth (2018) and Dustin Johnson (2019).
The course’s reputation for sudden shifts in scoring underscores why even the most polished players can unravel in a single round. S. Open history, tying him with players like Phil Mickelson, who missed 11 cuts from 2004 to 2011.
Unlike Mickelson, whose struggles came amid a broader decline, DeChambeau’s issues are concentrated in majors, where his power-driven game often clashes with the precision required on slower greens and tighter layouts. Rickie Fowler’s survival offered a rare bright spot for the PGA Tour faithful, his 69 proving that resilience can still trump inconsistency on golf’s biggest stage. For LIV Golf, the misses by Koepka, Smith, and Gooch raise fresh doubts about the circuit’s ability to produce major-ready talent, especially as traditional tours push back against LIV’s growing influence.
S. Open’s early casualties also exposed the widening gap between elite ball-striking and the short-game precision demanded by Shinnecock’s undulating greens. Players who thrived on distance—DeChambeau, Koepka, Smith—found their tee shots punished by the firm fairways, while those with elite scrambling and putting skills, like Schauffele and Hovland, navigated the round with relative ease.
The contrast highlights how modern power players must adapt or face obsolescence in a game increasingly defined by control around the greens. Shinnecock’s setup this year amplified the pressure on approach shots, with the USGA pinning flags in locations that punished even slight misses. The strategy rewarded players who prioritized accuracy over distance, a shift that could signal a broader trend in major setup philosophy.
As the tournament progresses, the question lingers: Can the game’s longest hitters recalibrate their games in time, or will Shinnecock’s brutal conditions continue to expose their limitations? S. Open moves to the weekend with Schauffele, Hovland, and Cantlay among the players to watch.
Fowler’s resurgence could reignite his Ryder Cup hopes, while DeChambeau’s streak will only intensify scrutiny on his major strategy and equipment choices heading into the Open Championship at Royal Troon in July. Read at NewsAPI.org
The U.S. Open cut line exposed the fragility of golf’s elite, with DeChambeau’s streak and Rahm’s exit underscoring how quickly fortunes can reverse on one of the game’s most demanding stages. For LIV Golf stars, the misses compound questions about their commitment to majors and their ability to peak when it matters most. The results ripple beyond prize money, shaping rankings, seeding, and narratives ahead of the next major. The tournament’s harsh conditions at Shinnecock Hills served as a reminder that even the best players are one bad round away from irrelevance in a major. The early exits also highlight a growing divide in the sport: the power game is being tested by courses that demand precision, forcing players to confront whether their arsenals are built for majors or just the PGA Tour’s more forgiving layouts.
NewsAPI.orgcbssports.comBy Robby KallandJun 20, 12:32 AMen
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