GOLF
Who made the cut at the 2024 US Open? What big names won’t be playing this weekend?
While Rory McIlroy is in contention at the top of the leaderboard, Scottie Scheffler found himself in an unusual position at Pinehurst No. 2 on Friday.
The US Open format for establishing the cut line is a little different than other major tournaments. At Pinehurst No. 2, the top 60 players and ties make the cut and continue play into the weekend. Other majors such as the PGA Championship and the British Open take 70 players and ties after 36 holes while the Masters allows the top 50 players and ties to continue into the weekend.
The course played brutally hard on Thursday and Friday and demanded the most out of top’s best golfers. Everything off of the fairway was trouble and the greens were lightning fast and should get harder as play progresses though the weekend.
What was the cut at Pinehurst No. 2?
As had been projected for most of Friday afternoon, the cut came at +5, which saw some of the sport’s biggest names on just sneak in to play at the weekend. That included world number one Scottie Scheffler, who had been the heavy favourite to win the tournament, two-time winner Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood, who were all +5 at the end of the second round.
However, a number of high-profile stars are going home early: Tiger Woods (+7), Viktor Hovland (+6), Max Homa (+6), Justin Rose (+6), Rickie Fowler (+8), Webb Simpson (+8), Will Zalatoris (+8), Dustin Johnson (+9), Jason Day (+9), Justin Thomas (+11) and Phil Mickelson (+15).
Sweden’s Ludwig Aberg, who only turned professional, a year ago, leads the way in his first ever US Open at -5, although Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Cantlay and Rory McIlroy are among those in pursuit at the top of the leaderboard going into Round 3.