Oakmont’s lived up to its fearsome reputation — and then some. With greens like glass, fairways narrower than a pencil line, and rough so thick you’d lose a ball and your dignity, the 2025 U.S. Open is proving a bloodbath. And with the projected cut line sitting at a bruising +6 or even +7, plenty of big-name stars are in real danger of packing their bags before the weekend.
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Among the early casualties is Shane Lowry, who limped to a disastrous 79 (+9). “I honestly don’t know what I could have done differently,” said the 2019 Open Champion. “You’re not playing golf out there — you’re surviving. One bad swing and you’re in jail.”
Masters Champ in trouble?
Rory McIlroy looked to be cruising early at –2, but a calamitous back nine unravelled his round. He now sits on the cut bubble at +4, needing a tidy second round to avoid another Oakmont heartbreak — nine years after his missed cut here in 2016.
Also in the danger zone: Tommy Fleetwood (+6), Patrick Cantlay (+5), Matt Fitzpatrick (+5), and Justin Thomas (+6). Phil Mickelson and Wyndham Clark aren’t safe either, both carding a shaky +4.
World No.1 Slow Out of The Gates
Even the top dogs weren’t spared. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and defending champ Bryson DeChambeau stumbled to +3, with neither looking fully comfortable on greens that have been stimping at nearly 15.
If the wind picks up Friday — as forecast — things could get even uglier. One seasoned caddie was overheard muttering, “If you’re not in red numbers by Thursday lunch, you’re toast.”
It’s classic U.S. Open chaos — where bogeys feel like pars and pars feel like birdies. For those at +4 to +6, Friday will be a scrap just to survive.
