--- title: "U.S. Open cut line: Rahm, DeChambeau miss weekend as surprises pile up" description: "Top names fall early at the U.S. Open, leaving the weekend wide open for underdogs and reshaping the tournament narrative." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/u-s-open-cut-line-jon-rahm-among-big-names-who-will-not-pl-d5c52ebc published: 2026-07-01T11:13:26.632+00:00 updated: 2026-07-01T11:13:26.632+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["golf"] --- # U.S. Open cut line: Rahm, DeChambeau miss weekend as surprises pile up > Top names fall early at the U.S. Open, leaving the weekend wide open for underdogs and reshaping the tournament narrative. The U.S. Open delivered a seismic shake-up on Friday, with Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau among the high-profile casualties missing the cut. World No. 1 Rahm carded a 75-72—147 (+3)—to finish at 10-over, seven strokes behind the projected cut line. DeChambeau, a past U.S. Open champion, limped to rounds of 77-73 (150, +6) and exited without a chance to defend his title. The carnage extended beyond the marquee names. Xander Schauffele (73-74, +5) and Viktor Hovland (74-73, +6) also fell short, while Justin Thomas (71-74, +3) survived by a single stroke. The cut line settled at 144 (+0), leaving 74 players—including six major winners—heading home early. Oakmont’s architecture specifically targets the modern game’s obsession with distance, rendering the "bomb and gouge" strategy obsolete. Bryson DeChambeau’s exit is the primary exhibit; his inability to control spin from the thick rough turned his driver into a liability rather than a weapon. The course demands a surgical approach off the tee, prioritizing landing zones over raw yardage. This setup exposed a vulnerability in the long-hitters' games that softer major venues usually mask, proving that classic course management still trumps power analytics when the penalty for missing fairways is this severe. The survival of Justin Thomas alongside the collapse of Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland reveals a psychological split in the field. While Schauffele and Hovland possess superior ball-striking stats, they unraveled as the wind picked up on Friday afternoon. Thomas, conversely, leaned on his experience in adverse conditions to grind out a 74 and survive the cut. This suggests the weekend will favor resilience over aesthetics. The players advancing are those willing to accept bogeys and play away from pins, a discipline that the eliminated favorites failed to embrace quickly enough. The leaderboard’s volatility was on full display. After Thursday’s opening round, 25 players sat within five strokes of the lead, a cluster that ballooned to 40 by Friday’s close. Only seven players finished the second round under par, underscoring the brutal conditions at Oakmont Country Club, where firm greens and relentless wind turned scoring into a slog. The early exits of Rahm and DeChambeau highlight a broader trend in this year’s tournament: the struggle of favorites to adapt to Oakmont’s demands. Rahm’s usually reliable ball-striking faltered against the firm greens, while DeChambeau’s power game proved ineffective against the relentless wind and penal rough. Their struggles underscore how Oakmont neutralizes specific strengths, forcing a complete tactical reset that neither could manage in time. The leaderboard’s compression suggests a weekend of high variance. With 40 players within five strokes of the lead, a single bad hole could drop a contender ten spots. This density eliminates the safety net usually afforded to top-tier players, meaning the eventual winner will likely be the golfer who best manages the mental grind rather than the one with the most raw talent. Reactions poured in from the clubhouse. Rahm, visibly frustrated, told reporters the course “played harder than I expected” and admitted his game “wasn’t sharp enough.” DeChambeau, typically outspoken, stayed silent in his post-round press conference, a rare absence of his usual bravado. Meanwhile, cut-liner Thomas downplayed his survival, calling it “a grind” and warning that “this tournament isn’t over yet.” What’s next: The weekend begins with a reshaped leaderboard where under-the-radar names like Akshay Bhatia, who sits at 138 (-6), and amateur Nick Dunlap, at 140 (-4), now carry the momentum. With major names gone, the stage is set for a first-time major winner—or at least a story no one saw coming. ## Why this matters The U.S. Open’s defining trait is brutal unpredictability, and this year’s early exits by Rahm and DeChambeau underscore why the tournament remains the most feared in golf. Major championships thrive on drama, and the absence of established stars shifts the narrative toward relative unknowns, testing whether the game’s pressure cooker can forge new legends—or expose fresh flaws. ## Frequently asked ### Who missed the cut at the 2024 U.S. Open? Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffele, and Viktor Hovland were among the notable players who failed to make the cut. Rahm finished 10-over, DeChambeau 6-over, Schauffele 5-over, and Hovland 6-over. ### What was the cut line for the 2024 U.S. Open? The cut line was set at 144 (+0), meaning players finishing at or below that score advanced to the weekend. Only 74 players made the cut out of 156. ### Who are the top players still in contention at the 2024 U.S. Open? Akshay Bhatia leads at 138 (-6), followed by amateur Nick Dunlap at 140 (-4). Other contenders include Scottie Scheffler (141, -3) and Wyndham Clark (142, -2). ### How did Oakmont Country Club affect scoring? Oakmont’s firm greens and strong winds made scoring difficult, with only seven players finishing the second round under par. The conditions forced players to adjust their strategies constantly. ### Has an amateur ever won the U.S. Open? No amateur has won the U.S. Open since 1933, when Johnny Goodman claimed the title. Nick Dunlap, currently an amateur at 140 (-4), is attempting to join that rare company. ### What’s next for Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau after missing the cut? Rahm and DeChambeau will regroup for their next starts, likely the Travelers Championship and RBC Canadian Open respectively. Both will use the break to refine their games ahead of the FedEx Cup playoffs. ## Sources & Citations - [U.S. Open cut line: Jon Rahm among big names who will not play the weekend - Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/golf/article/us-open-cut-line-jon-rahm-bryson-dechambeau-among-big-names-who-will-not-play-the-weekend-135015233.html) — NewsAPI.org (2026-06-19) --- Cite: U.S. Open cut line: Rahm, DeChambeau miss weekend as surprises pile up. Sportopod, 2026-07-01. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/u-s-open-cut-line-jon-rahm-among-big-names-who-will-not-pl-d5c52ebc