LIV Golf endured another difficult chapter in its pursuit of major championship success Friday as several of its biggest stars failed to survive the cut at the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.
By the end of the second round, two-time U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and former world No. 1 Jon Rahm had both been eliminated, while only six of the 13 LIV Golf players in the field advanced to the weekend. None of the surviving LIV competitors finished within eight shots of second-round leader Wyndham Clark, who held the outright lead at 7-under-par.
DeChambeau narrowly missed the cut after carding a 5-over-par 75 in the second round. The result marked the third consecutive major championship in which the American failed to reach the weekend, following disappointing performances at the Masters and PGA Championship earlier this season.
Rahm’s exit was even more dramatic. The Spaniard appeared to be in strong position after opening with a 2-under 68 that placed him among the early contenders. However, a disastrous second-round 78 sent the 2021 U.S. Open champion tumbling down the leaderboard and out of the tournament.
Dustin Johnson also suffered a sharp reversal in fortunes. After sitting second following the opening round, the two-time major champion struggled to a 77 on Friday and finished at 3 over for the championship. A quadruple bogey on the par-4 15th nearly pushed him below the cut line before a birdie on the par-5 16th helped him narrowly secure a weekend tee time.
The disappointing performances reflected a broader trend for LIV Golf players at the demanding Shinnecock Hills layout. Of the tour’s 13 entrants, only six advanced to the final two rounds, with Laurie Canter, Peter Uihlein and Caleb Surratt surviving on the cut line at 4 over.
Adding to LIV’s frustrations was a costly collapse by Joaquin Niemann during the opening round. The Chilean star unraveled on the par-4 sixth hole, recording an 11 after a disastrous sequence that included throwing a club in frustration.
England’s Tyrrell Hatton emerged as LIV Golf’s best hope for a breakthrough performance. Hatton followed an opening-round 74 with a strong 68 on Friday to move into a tie for 34th place. However, he remained nine shots behind Clark entering the weekend.
Hatton is seeking to become LIV Golf’s first major winner since DeChambeau captured the U.S. Open title in 2024. The Englishman previously demonstrated strong major form this season by tying for third at the Masters.
Several other notable names also failed to qualify for the weekend. Brooks Koepka, a two-time U.S. Open champion, finished at 10 over par. Defending champion J.J. Spaun missed the cut at 8 over, while Viktor Hovland ended the week at 5 over. Shane Lowry and Cameron Smith also exited early after finishing 6 over par.
With many of its marquee players already eliminated and only a handful remaining in contention, LIV Golf faces another uphill battle to make an impact at one of the sport’s biggest events. As the championship heads into the weekend, the focus shifts to whether Hatton or another surviving LIV competitor can mount a charge and salvage an otherwise disappointing week for the breakaway circuit.
