Oakmont Country Club has once again proven to be a formidable fortress at the 2025 U.S. Open, delivering a brutal test that has left many of golf’s biggest names on the sidelines heading into the weekend. The cut line was set at seven over par, a full stroke higher than it was during the last Oakmont U.S. Open in 2016, underscoring just how punishing the course played over the first two rounds. Despite the elevated cut line, a surprising number of stars failed to make it through, including defending champion Bryson DeChambeau and six-time major winner Phil Mickelson.
DeChambeau’s title defense ended abruptly after a grueling second round on Friday. The 2024 U.S. Open champion opened his tournament with a three-over 73 but faltered badly in his second round, carding a 77 that saw him finish at 10 over par, three strokes above the cut line. His back nine unravelled quickly, bogeying four of the first seven holes and double-bogeying the fifth. DeChambeau’s struggles were marked by poor distance control, as he missed three consecutive iron shots long and was unable to save par, a recurring issue that has plagued him in recent majors. This marks only the third time in his 11 U.S. Open appearances that he has missed the cut, and the first since 2017.
Phil Mickelson’s journey at Oakmont may have come to a heartbreaking close, potentially marking his final U.S. Open appearance. The 54-year-old was well positioned through 14 holes, playing even par, but two costly double bogeys on holes 15 and 17 pushed him to eight over, leaving him just one stroke shy of extending his weekend. His birdie putt on the 18th grazed the edge but failed to drop, sealing a disappointing exit. Mickelson has now missed seven of his last nine major cuts, a stark contrast to his illustrious career which includes six major championships and multiple U.S. Open runner-up finishes.
Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, showed resilience to survive the cut line. After a tough start that included two double bogeys in his first three holes of the second round, McIlroy rallied with birdies on the 15th and 18th holes to finish at six over par, safely inside the cut line. His performance was a bright spot amid the carnage, allowing the reigning Masters champion to continue his pursuit of a major breakthrough at Oakmont.
Other notable names who fell victim to Oakmont’s punishing setup include Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark, Tommy Fleetwood, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, Joaquin Niemann, Cameron Smith, Patrick Cantlay, and Sepp Straka. Åberg and Clark both finished at eight over, with Åberg missing his second consecutive major cut. Fleetwood’s tournament ended on a sour note with a double bogey on the ninth hole of his second round after a wayward drive landed in a fairway bunker, followed by a three-putt. Dustin Johnson, the 2016 U.S. Open champion, also missed the cut, continuing a troubling trend as he has failed to make the weekend in six of his last eight majors.
Justin Thomas, a two-time major winner, struggled mightily and finished at 12 over par. His Friday round was highlighted by a four-putt double bogey from 22 feet on the par-5 12th hole, a moment that epitomized his frustrating week. Thomas’ recent major form has been underwhelming, with seven missed cuts in his last 13 majors and only one top-10 finish during that span.
Shane Lowry, who led at the 54-hole mark during the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont, found the course far less forgiving this year. His first-round 79 included a hole-out eagle but was marred by poor putting, losing 4.41 strokes on the greens. He opened his second round with three bogeys and a double bogey, finishing at a staggering 17 over par and missing the cut by a wide margin.
Justin Rose’s slide since finishing runner-up at the 2024 Masters continued as he finished at 14 over par. His putting woes were evident in the first round where he lost 4.45 strokes on the greens, and a front-nine 40 in the second round effectively ended his tournament. Cameron Smith and Patrick Cantlay also missed the cut, both finishing at eight over. Cantlay needed a par on the final hole to advance but faltered with a tee shot into a fairway bunker and a short par chip, missing the cut for the second major in a row.
The 2025 U.S. Open has been a battle of attrition, with only three players entering the weekend under par. The average score over the first two rounds was more than 4.5 strokes over par, a testament to Oakmont’s relentless difficulty. The field was whittled down from 156 players to just 68 who made the cut, including notable names like Hideki Matsuyama, Harris English, Patrick Reed, and Matt Fitzpatrick, all of whom managed to survive at seven over.
Weather also played a role in the tournament’s progression, with second-round play suspended on Friday evening due to lightning and resuming early Saturday morning. Round 3 will commence with groups of two starting off the first tee, with tee times running from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET, setting the stage for what promises to be a dramatic weekend.
As the U.S. Open moves into its final rounds, the storylines are rich with drama. Will Rory McIlroy capitalize on his survival and mount a serious challenge for the title? Can the under-par trio hold off a charging field on one of golf’s most demanding courses? And what will the future hold for legends like Mickelson and DeChambeau, who were left wanting at Oakmont?
One thing is clear: Oakmont has once again lived up to its reputation as one of the toughest tests in golf, and the 2025 U.S. Open is shaping up to be a classic. The weekend promises high drama, with the cream of the crop battling not just each other but the course itself in pursuit of one of golf’s most coveted trophies.
