3 Big Names Miss the Cut at the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
Shinnecock Hills lived up to its reputation during the 2026 U.S. Open, punishing even the best players with challenging wind conditions and lightning-fast greens. After two rounds, the cut fell at +4, leaving three of golf’s biggest stars watching the weekend from the sidelines.
Bryson DeChambeau
Bryson DeChambeau opened the tournament with an even-par 70, highlighted by a 427-yard drive on the par-4 12th. Round 2, however, proved difficult; a 5-over 75 left him at 145, missing the cut by a single stroke.
Despite his struggles in majors, DeChambeau has excelled on the LIV Golf circuit, winning events in Singapore and South Africa, and finishing third in Virginia and Korea. The Shinnecock miss marked the first time in his major career that he has failed to make three consecutive cuts in a single season.
Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm began strongly, carding a bogey-free 68 in Round 1. Friday’s back-nine collapse changed the trajectory, however. Between holes 12 and 16, Rahm recorded four bogeys and one double bogey, leaving him out of contention.
This result stands in contrast to his otherwise consistent season, which included a victory in Hong Kong and five runner-up finishes: Riyadh, Adelaide, South Africa, Andalucía, and the PGA Championship. Rahm’s missed cut at Shinnecock was an anomaly, demonstrating the course’s unforgiving nature.
Patrick Cantlay
Patrick Cantlay struggled from the start, posting a 4-over 74 in Round 1. Although he improved to a 72 in Round 2, it wasn’t enough to stay in the tournament, finishing at 146—two shots shy of the cut.
Cantlay had shown solid form this season, with top finishes including T7 at the Valspar, T8 at the RBC Heritage, T10 at the Truist Championship, T12 at the Masters, and T17 at the Memorial. Yet even consistent play couldn’t overcome Shinnecock Hills’ punishing layout.
Shinnecock Hills: The Great Equalizer
The 2026 U.S. Open reaffirmed that Shinnecock Hills doesn’t grade players by resume. DeChambeau came in hot on LIV events but cold in majors. Rahm entered as one of the most consistent performers on tour, and Cantlay maintained steady form. Still, all three found themselves eliminated by the course’s challenges.
Shinnecock Hills serves as a reminder that in the U.S. Open, past achievements offer no guarantees—only precision, patience, and adaptability determine who survives to the weekend.
