Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Viktor Hovland and Justin Thomas among golf stars in danger of missing the cut at the US Open after DISASTROUS first rounds at Pinehurst
Some of golf’s big names will be doing their best to bounce back after tough first rounds at the US Open at Pinehurst No. 2.
With the current cut of two over on the firm and fast course, a number of golfers have struggled in the conditions.
That includes several former major champions, the reigning US Open champion and all-time greats like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
LIV golfer and six-time major winner Mickelson is near the bottom of the pecking order after playing a nine-over first round with four consecutive bogeys to start his day.
Right behind him is Viktor Hovland, who made six bogeys and two double bogeys to score an eight-over round in North Carolina.
Tiger Woods is two shots behind the projected cutline, with the golf legend at four left
Things are going much worse for Phil Mickelson, who is at the back of the pack with nine to spare
Two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas isn’t faring much better after bogeying five holes on the back nine to finish at seven under with serious work still to be done on Friday.
While these golfers still have a long way uphill to climb, there are some who can realistically still find their way to safety on Friday.
In the crowd at four are Shane Lowry, Keegan Bradley and Dustin Johnson.
But the biggest name among them at four-over is Tiger Woods. Woods started his round with a pair of bogeys before finishing the day with six in total – coupled with two birdies.
Golfers one shot behind the expected cut include major winner Justin Rose and reigning US Open champion Wyndham Clark.
Justin Thomas hit five bogeys on the back nine to slide back to seven over par
Reigning champion Wyndham Clark is within striking distance of the cutline at three-over
Clark scored two bogeys on both the front and back nine, but saved himself from further damage with a birdie on the tenth.
Earlier this week, Clark called the greens “extremely fast” and complained about the conditions he and his fellow golfers faced.
He added: ‘If they got any firmer and faster the greens would be on the border. They’re already on the border.’
Golfers currently sitting on the two-over line include Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama and three-time major champion Jordan Spieth.
They are a long way from the leaders Patrick Cantlay and Rory McIlroy, who are equal at the top at five under par.