DeChambeau and Other Former Champions Bid Farewell to the US Open
This year’s US Open will not have a defending champion. Bryson DeChambeau, winner at Pinehurst 2024, missed the cut at Oakmont after a round of 77 strokes (+7) on Friday, finishing with a total of 10 over par in two rounds. DeChambeau, 31 years old, had a difficult start with a bogey on the 10th hole, but recovered with a par on the 11th and a birdie on the 12th. However, he only managed two more birdies for the rest of the afternoon, finishing with seven bogeys and a double bogey. He wasn’t the only former US Open champion to succumb to the demanding Oakmont course. Justin Rose (+14), Gary Woodland (+10), Dustin Johnson (+10), Wyndham Clark (+8) and Lucas Glover (+8) are also likely to miss the cut of +7 (play in the second round was suspended on Friday afternoon with a small group of players still to finish). Phil Mickelson, in the last year of his five-year exemption for winning the PGA Championship in 2021, also missed the cut after a second round of 74 strokes, finishing with +8. Mickelson has missed the cut at the US Open four times in a row, and this is his 11th attempt to complete the elusive Grand Slam. At the beginning of the week, the 54-year-old player acknowledged that there was a “high probability” that this would be his last appearance at the US Open. Asked at a press conference on June 4th if he would participate in the open qualifying for future US Opens if he were not exempt, Mickelson refrained from answering.Mickelson has never won the US Open, although he finished in second place six times in 33 participations. Mickelson declined interview requests on Friday after missing a putt for birdie on the 18th hole that would have put him on the cut line. Mickelson was 1 over par on the first nine holes and tied with a birdie on the 11th. But after making three straight pars, he double-bogeyed two of the last four holes. Upon leaving the green on the 18th, the LIV Golf leader was greeted with some shouts of “Lefty!” by some fans in front of the clubhouse. He offered a couple of greetings and nods as he left the course and headed to record his score. Ben Griffin, who is at par and tied for fourth place, stopped to chat with the six-time major champion during what could be his final round of the US Open.I don’t know. I haven’t thought about that.
Phil Mickelson
Shane Lowry, the world number 12 player, also missed the cut after two disastrous rounds to finish with +17.Yes, unfortunately my memories of him are not of winning, because I know he needs it for the Grand Slam. But yes, growing up as a kid watching him and Tiger [Woods] fight and some other big names was really cool.
Ben Griffin
A microcosm of Lowry’s week occurred on the 14th hole when the Irishman picked up his ball on the green without marking it. He was assessed a penalty stroke for the mental lapse, leading to a double bogey.I let myself do what I said I wouldn’t, but that’s Oakmont. That’s the US Open, and obviously I made too many doubles, too many big mistakes, and then when I had a couple of chances, I didn’t convert them. I didn’t really do much right, to be honest, apart from I drove the ball as well as I’ve probably done in a long time.
Shane Lowry
My mind was elsewhere. But I fought. I still tried. I fought in every blow. I still tried in every blow, and that’s all you can do, I suppose, in a week like this.Probably one of the stupidest things I’ve ever done in my life. I picked up the ball, had it in my hand, turned to [the caddie] Darren [Reynolds], and he basically said, what are you doing?
Shane Lowry
