10 surprising players who missed the cut at the U.S. Open

While those like Rickie Fowler and Rory McIlroy at the top of the leaderboard are feasting at a getable Los Angeles Country Club, not everyone has been so fortunate.

Friday’s 36-hole U.S. Open cut came down at two-over 142, the lowest aggregate total in championship history, and some big names found themselves on the wrong side of it. The field of 156 was trimmed to 65 players, and stars like World No. 2 Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay and Tommy Fleetwood made it just on the number. However, keep reading for the notables who failed to make the cut.

Notables who missed the cut at Los Angeles Country Club

Phil Mickelson

What he shot: 69-74 (+3)

Why it’s surprising: Mickelson took us down memory lane with his Sunday 64 at the Masters to finish a shocking T2 behind Jon Rahm. Then he made the cut again last month at the PGA Championship, all the while quietly alluding to the chaos that was about to unfold in pro golf. However, he got a nasty 53rd birthday present from LACC on Friday with a 74 that sends him home early for the fourth time in his past seven U.S. Opens.

Jordan Spieth

What he shot: 72-71 (+3)

Why it’s surprising: Spieth has had a solid, but unspectacular year thus far in 2023, recording six top-10s and grabbing a sneaky T5 at the Memorial two weeks ago. However he has yet to win this season, and that won’t change this week at Los Angeles Country Club.

Max Homa

What he shot: 68-76 (+4)

Why it’s surprising: With two wins already this season and already the owner of the North Course’s record at LACC, many expected this U.S. Open to be the site of at least Max Homa’s first top-10 in a major. However, the L.A.-area native will keep searching after three doubles in his last 11 holes Friday left him scratching his head.

Justin Rose

What he shot: 76-68 (+4)

Why it’s surprising: Rose got his first win since 2019 earlier this season at Pebble Beach and had finished in the top 12 in his past three starts, including at T9 last month at the PGA Championship. He put together a strong rally Friday after opening with a 76, getting inside the cut line with three to play, but bogeys on 16 and 17 knocked him out.

Nick Taylor

What he shot: 72-72 (+4)

Why it’s surprising: Last week’s Canadian Open hero was coming to LACC on the highest of highs after his playoff victory over Tommy Fleetwood ended a 69-year drought for home countrymen at his national open. However, his ‘A-game’ didn’t make the trip across the border with him.

Adam Scott

What he shot: 72-73 (+5)

Why it’s surprising: Not only is this Adam Scott’s first missed cut of the 2023 season, but he was also just starting to play his best golf, with three top-10s in his past four starts. Scott hasn’t missed a major since the 2001 U.S. Open, and this will be just his third missed major cut in his past 14 tries.

Keegan Bradley

What he shot: 72-74 (+6)

Why it’s surprising: Keegan Bradley has had just as much of a career resurrection this season as Rickie Fowler, if not more. The 37-year-old beat Fowler last fall for his first win in four years at the Zozo Championship, and he’s had seven other top-25s, including a runner-up at the Farmers. He finished T7 at The Country Club last year, but won’t be able to duplicate that in 2023.

Sungjae Im

What he shot: 71-75 (+6)

Why it’s surprising: Sungjae Im has been one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour for a couple of years now, and 2023 has been no different with seven top-10s, including one at The Players. But LACC was not so kind to the two-time PGA Tour winner.

Jason Day

What he shot: 73-76 (+9)

Why it’s surprising: Day has also been having somewhat of a career resurgence in 2023, picking up his first PGA Tour title since 2018 the week before the PGA Championship, at the AT&T Byron Nelson. He’d also racked up seven top-10s and was a trendy darkhorse pick for this week’s tournament. However, he’ll miss his third-straight cut after getting over the hump in Dallas. Like Rose, he also played with Fowler the first two days but was unable to draft any momentum.

Justin Thomas

What he shot: 73-81 (+14)

Why it’s surprising: Justin Thomas’ look at his putt on the 6th hole Thursday is also all of our reactions to his scorecard on Friday. Since his PGA Championship win last year at Southern Hills, Thomas has just three top-10s. He finished T65 in his title defense at Oak Hill and missed the cut at the Memorial, but no one could have foreseen him finishing third-from-last at LACC. His 81 was just the second round of 80 or higher this week, and the second-highest round of his PGA Tour career.

Jack Hirsh

Golf.com Editor

Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and still *tries* to remain competitive in local amateurs. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.