A year ago, Bryson DeChambeau arrived at the US Open at Oakmont as the defending champion and one of golf’s most consistent top performers. Aside from a missed opportunity at the 2024 Open, DeChambeau entered last year’s US Open with one win and four other top-six finishes in his last six majors.
Since then, things have gone the other way.
DeChambeau missed the cut at Oakmont but bounced back with a T10 at Royal Portrush. This was the last time he played the weekend in a major. it triple-bogeyed the 18th on Friday to miss the cut at the Masters and then never got a chance to play the weekend at the PGA Championship in Aronimink. The two-time US Open champion had struggled with a right error with his irons and a left error with his driver and woods. He said Flushing It he didn’t feel any pressure to make the cut this week at Shinnecock Hills given his recent run of poor big form.
“No. To be honest, missed cuts are going to happen,” DeChambeau said Flushing It. “I might miss all four majors this year. That’s just golf. Yeah, I’m playing great. I just haven’t shown up when it matters most. But I’ve been playing well here at LIV, and I’m working hard on my golf swing, and I feel like it’s in a really strong place. It’s pretty close to some of my best.”
DeChambeau arrived at Shinnecock with a new prototype TaylorMade driver in the bag and shot a 70 in milder conditions in the afternoon. Then came Friday’s runoff, and DeChambeau’s top issues played out on the east end of Long Island. He three-putted from 31 feet to double the par-4 third and three-putted from 17 feet to double the 4th. He made the turn in three and then made three bogeys and just one birdie back home to shoot a five-over 75 and miss the cut by one stroke.
DeChambeau has now lost four of his last five major cuts and has missed consecutive US Open weekends since his win at Pinehurst No. 2.
Here are 11 surprising players who missed the mark Shinnecock Hills. Players at four or better will play the weekend (some players will complete the second round on Saturday morning, but the cut will not move).
Surprising players who missed the US Open match
Bryson DeChambeau
What shot: 70-75
Why it’s surprising: DeChambeau continues to play poorly when it matters most and will now arrive at the Open having not played a weekend major since last July in Northern Ireland.
Viktor Hovland
What shot: 76-69
Why it’s surprising: Hovland was in the mix on Sunday at last year’s US Open and has been able to clear good major rounds as he continues to work out issues in his swing. But a brutal opening round in easier conditions doomed his chances at Shinnecock.
Jon Rahm
What shot: 68-78
Why it’s surprising: Rahm is coming off a PGA Championship that he had a chance to win at Aronimink. He has been playing well and opened this US Open with a bogey-free 68 to get into the second round in the mix. But his putter betrayed him on Friday, as Rahm missed six long shots to within 10 feet, and his double bogey on the par-5 16th was the final shot in a second-round 78 and a missed cut.
Rickie Fowler
What shot: 71-74
Why it’s surprising: Before his last two starts on the PGA Tour, Fowler had been one of the most consistent players in the world in 2026. He opened with a 71 in the toughest conditions but couldn’t get it going Friday afternoon and will leave Long Island early.
Shane Lowry
What shot: 73-73
Why it’s surprising: The missed cut isn’t surprising, but it is shocking how Lowry’s form has fallen since he burst into the final round of the Cognizant Classic in March. Since that Sunday at the Palm Beaches, Lowry does not have a top 20 and will not play the weekend at Shinnecock. “Golf just doesn’t agree with me right now; I’m not enjoying it,” Lowry said after his round on Friday, via independent irish.
Patrick Cantlay
What shot: 74-72
Why it’s surprising: Cantlay continues to be a non-factor in the majors, and his plans for a US Open weekend were buried on his final hole Friday, when he three-putted from 12 feet to drop six and erase any chance he had of playing two more rounds at Shinnecock.
Cameron Smith
What shot: 75-71
Why it’s surprising: Smith finally showed signs of life at the PGA Championship in Aronimink and arrived at Shinnecock as a fashionable sleeper. A talented wind player, Smith has the game and temperament to answer the questions Shinnecock asks. But a 41 on Thursday put Smith behind the eighth ball, and he was unable to get back on the more difficult side of the draw.
Brooks Koepka
What shot: 73-77
Why it’s surprising: Koepka won the last US Open at Shinnecock and has played well this season out of a temperamental player. He withdrew last week because of an ulnar nerve problem that caused weakness in his hand, but said he was improving and felt ready to go to the top of the championship. He played a good 17 holes on Thursday before a closing double sent him crashing down the board. On Friday, he battled well for nine holes but then came home in 41 to shoot a seven-over 77 and post a two-day score of 10 over.
Patrick Reed
What shot: 72-73
Why it’s surprising: Reed was in the hunt at the Masters and played well at the PGA despite the unorthodox preparation to play zero tournaments between the first two championships of the year. He’s a grinder who embraces tough tests, and Shinnecock seemed well-suited to what he does. But Reed struggled off the tee and on the green and will leave the Hamptons early.
Adam Scott
What shot: 73-75
Why it’s surprising: Playing in his 100th straight majormany expected Scott to throw himself into the mix once again as he tries to find a second major. But the 45-year-old missed shots everywhere but the green and was out of sight by the time he made the turn on Friday.
JJ Spaun
What shot: 77-71
Why it’s surprising: Defending US Open champion played good golf late. He won at Texas in March and put himself in the mix at Colonial and Memorial after a shot change a few weeks ago. But Spaun shot an opening-round 77 and exited the tournament early.
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