Hometown Hero Amongst Surprise Names to Miss U.S. Open Cut

Los Angeles Country Club showed some bite on Friday at the U.S. Open and some big names were sent packing as a result. 

Los Angeles Country Club, also known as LACC, the site of the 123rd playing of the U.S. Open came under harsh criticism over the course of the last 48 hours for yielding some of the lowest recorded scores in The U.S. Opens’ famed history.

While that certainly proved true on Thursday during the opening round of the year’s third major championship, LACC fought back a bit on Friday afternoon and some of golf’s biggest names were sent packing as a result.

Per Data Golf, the afternoon wave played nearly a stroke and a half more difficult than the host venue had played for the morning wave on Friday.

While Rickie Fowler continues to set U.S. Open records following rounds of 62 on Thursday and a follow-up Friday-68; a result that sees the 2015 Players Champion sitting atop the pile on his own heading into moving day. Others will want to forget this week’s major in a hurry.

Chief amongst that list is last year’s PGA Champion and two-time major winner Justin Thomas who had a dismal time this week in Los Angeles.

But JT isn’t the only player who will be looking to turn the page swiftly, a hometown hero along with a handful of others will have their sights set upon potentially brighter days at 2023’s final major, The 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool next month.

Here is a look at some of the most shocking names to have missed the cut at the 2023 U.S. Open at LACC.

A Miserable Exit for Justin Thomas

What’s wrong with Justin Thomas? That is the question that is sure to be circulating after JT has endured a very uncharacteristic season to date. Those cries will only grow louder after last year’s PGA Champion exited this year’s U.S. Open in a shocking manner.

Thomas followed his opening 73 on Thursday with an eye-opening 81 on Friday. Justin shot 14-over par after just 36 holes of play, a result that left him with the fourth-worst tally in the field at the halfway point of the U.S. Open.

A showing that had the star admitting it ‘was the lowest he ever felt’.

A Not So Happy ‘Homacoming’ for Max Homa at U.S. Open.

Many would have anticipated a better showing from the hometown kid this week. Sadly it was not to be. ‘Mr. California’ has built up quite the reputation in his home state after claiming four wins in the State of California since 2021. Two of which, came this season, at the Fortinet Championship last September and the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in January.

Max has climbed up to number 7 in the World Golf Ranking and following an opening round of 68 on Thursday at LACC he was well placed heading into Friday.

Unfortunately for Homa and the hometown support, things did not go to plan on Friday as Max not only failed to get himself into contention, he missed the cut entirely. Things were going well for the Burbank, Cali, native until three double bogeys resulting in a Friday-76 derailed his week.

Spieth, Rose, and Conners Miss Out

Jordan Spieth narrowly missed the opportunity to play the weekend, in large part due to a disastrous finish to his round on Friday. 

Rounds of 72 and 71 saw Jordan miss the cut by a single stroke at the 123rd U.S. Open. Meanwhile, 2013 U.S. Open winner, Justin Rose, admirably hung in there on Friday after an opening-76 had left him in a precarious position heading into the second round at LACC.

Rose fired a 68 on Thursday and got himself to within two strokes of the eventual +2 cutline at Los Angeles Country Club, but he too, will also be heading home early.

Conners came into the week with a surprisingly poor track record in U.S. Opens, and yet, an excellent showing at last month’s PGA Championship would have provided some reason for optimism heading into the 2023 U.S. Open.

The Canadian opened with a solid round of 70 on Thursday but found things a bit more challenging during the second round. Double bogeys on holes 8 and 9 at LACC on Friday proved too much to overcome for Corey, and like Rose before him, he missed the mark by two following a 74.

Major champions Adam Scott and Jason Day also failed to make the U.S. Open cut this week. The two Australians are also joined by Sungjae Im and 2018 Open Champion, Francesco Molinari, amongst a few other notable names to miss out on playing the weekend at LACC.