Bryson DeChambeau and a parade of major winners face early exits at the 2025 U.S. Open

Picture this: you’re standing on the first tee of the U.S. Open, the same tournament where you hoisted the trophy just 12 months ago. The crowd’s cheering, cameras are clicking, and you’re thinking about back-to-back victories. Fast forward 36 holes, and you’re packing your bags for an early flight home.

That’s exactly what happened to Bryson DeChambeau at Oakmont Country Club, and brother, it’s a reminder that golf doesn’t care about your past achievements.

When the Wheels Come Off

DeChambeau’s Friday was the kind of round that makes you want to throw your clubs in the nearest water hazard. Starting his second round by bogeying four of the first seven holes? That’s not ideal. Adding a double-bogey on the 5th hole? Now we’re talking disaster territory.

The big-hitting American didn’t just struggle – he imploded. His scorecard read like a horror story: double-bogey, eight bogeys, and only three measly birdies. That ugly +7 round pushed him to 10-over for the tournament, sitting three shots above the projected cut line.

Here’s the kicker – this would only be the third time in 11 U.S. Open appearances that DeChambeau has missed the weekend. The last time? 2017. For a guy who’s won this tournament twice (2020 and 2024), that’s got to sting worse than a shank into the gallery.

The Star-Studded Casualty List

But here’s the thing about the U.S. Open – it doesn’t discriminate. It’ll chew up and spit out major champions just as easily as it’ll humble a weekend warrior. DeChambeau wasn’t alone in his misery, not by a long shot.

The projected cut line sat at +7 when play was suspended Friday evening due to lightning (because of course Mother Nature wanted to add more drama). That line caught some seriously big fish in its net.

The Major Champions Getting Sent Home:

• Lucas Glover (+8) – the 2009 U.S. Open champ
• Gary Woodland (+10) – 2019 U.S. Open winner
• Dustin Johnson (+10) – 2016 U.S. Open champion
• Justin Rose (+14) – 2013 U.S. Open winner

The Big Names Joining the Exit Party:

• Patrick Cantlay (+8) – always a contender
• Cameron Smith (+8) – the Aussie with the flow
• Phil Mickelson (+8) – six-time major winner and perpetual U.S. Open heartbreak story
• Tommy Fleetwood (+9) – Mr. Consistent himself
• Justin Thomas (+12) – two-time major champ

And then there’s Shane Lowry at +17, who probably wishes he could delete this week from his memory bank.

The Flip Side of the Coin

While these big names were packing their bags, Sam Burns was sitting pretty at the top of the leaderboard at -3. J.J. Spaun and Viktor Hovland were right behind him, proving that opportunity knocks loudest when the favorites are stumbling.

That’s the beautiful brutality of major championship golf – it creates heroes and villains in the span of 18 holes.

The Mental Side of the Game

Here’s what really gets me about this whole situation: the mental aspect that nobody talks about. Imagine being DeChambeau, walking into this tournament as the defending champion, feeling the weight of expectations, and then watching your game fall apart in real-time.

The U.S. Open has a way of exposing every crack in your mental armor. It’s not just about hitting fairways and greens – it’s about staying composed when everything’s going sideways. When you’re the defending champ and you’re struggling, every shot becomes magnified, every mistake gets amplified.

What This Means Going Forward

The second round was suspended with some players still on the course, so technically, these guys still have a sliver of hope. But let’s be real – when you’re sitting three or more shots above the cut line with limited holes left, you’re basically watching from the clubhouse come weekend.

For DeChambeau, this isn’t just about missing a cut. It’s about the psychological impact of going from champion to also-ran in 12 months. How do you bounce back from that? How do you reset your expectations and find that championship form again?

The U.S. Open has a way of humbling even the greatest players, and this week at Oakmont was a masterclass in how quickly fortunes can change in professional golf.

Play Resumes: Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET

The leaderboard tells the story – while some dreams were crushed, others were just beginning. That’s golf for you – beautiful, brutal, and completely unpredictable.