Big names bow:
Three topranked players bow out early
The top three players in the world, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day, miss the cut.
TOWN OF ERIN – Jason Day forced a smile when he stepped to the podium in the interview area after finishing the second round of the U.S. Open and was introduced thusly: “Jason Day, shot 79-75.” Ouch. “Thanks for that,” Day said dryly, his sense of humor still intact after two frustrating trips around Erin Hills.
Day, ranked third in the Official World Golf Ranking, won’t be around for the weekend, having missed the 36-hole cut Friday.
Shockingly, defending U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy – Nos. 1 and 2 in the world – also bade farewell to the fescue. Johnson missed the cut by three shots, McIlroy by four and Day by nine.
It marked the first time since the world ranking began in 1986 that the top three players all missed the cut in a major championship.
“If you look at the golf course and you even talk to me, Jason or Rory, this course sets up perfect for us,” said Johnson, whose fiancée, Paulina Gretzky, gave birth to the couple’s second child earlier in the week. “But as we well know, this game’s all about putting.
“So it’s pretty simple. I just didn’t get it in the hole fast enough.”
Sixty-eight players survived the cut at 1-over-par 145, including Madison’s Steve Stricker and Mequon’s Jordan Niebrugge.
But 11 among the top 20 in the world did not. In addition to the top three, those departing the premises were Henrik Stenson (6), Alex Noren (8), Jon Rahm (10), Justin Rose (11), Adam Scott (12), Charl Schwartzel (16), Francesco Molinari (17) and Tyrell Hatton (18).
You could have won a lot of money in Las Vegas betting that Xander Schauffele and amateur Cameron Champ would be among the leaders after 36 holes and that the top three in the world would miss the cut.
McIlroy hadn’t played since mid-May because of a rib injury.
“I started to let it go a little bit on the back nine today and I showed what I can do,” he said. “I birdied four of the last six. I could have probably birdied the last six. It didn’t matter at that point because I was so far from the cut line. But at least I know it’s in there.”
Day, who won the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, said he felt prepared for the U.S. Open and enjoyed playing Erin Hills. He just didn’t hit enough good shots to overcome a pair of triplebogeys in the first round.
“I enjoyed the walk,” he said. “The walk was great. The golf course is actually really beautiful. Unfortunately, I just didn’t execute.”
McIlroy also refused to blame Erin Hills for his errant shots.
“The golf course is great, it really is,” he said. “I’m a big fan of this place. It’s a big, big golf course, with long rough and all that stuff, but it lets you play. Not your typical U.S. Open set-up. I think it’s going to produce a really good winner at the end of the week.”