Xander Schauffele ready for Oakmont’s tough test
Xander Schauffele calls Oakmont a true test, where hitting fairways and greens is the only way to survive.
USGA
(Editor’s note: Keep track of all the ups and downs from the second round of the 2025 U.S. Open with our live updates.)
We’re monitoring the projected cut line at the U.S. Open to see who could make or miss the cut at Oakmont Country Club.
There are a lot of stars who need a good second round to play the weekend. Masters champion Rory McIlroy entered the day at 4 over par, while Justin Thomas, Justin Rose and Hideki Matsuyama are also among the players close to the line. Scottie Scheffler and reigning U.S. Open champ Bryson DeChambeau need to avoid a bad day to stay alive.
Shane Lowry, Min Woo Lee and Tony Finau are in big trouble entering the round. Will Mason Howell, Jackson Koivun or any other amateurs make the cut?
Here’s a look at who is in line to make and miss the cut at the U.S. Open:
As of 6:30 p.m., the projected cut line at the U.S. Open was 7 over par. It has risen from 4 over par throughout the day. The actual cut line was 6 over, though it was expected to rise.
Here are some notable players at the projected cut line:
Rory McIlroyTommy FleetwoodAkshay BhatiaCam DavisPatrick Reed (F)Ludvig Åberg (+8)Hideki Matsuyama (+8)Gary Woodland (+8)Jackson Koivun (a) (+8)Tom Hoge (+8) (F)Benjamin James (a) (+8) (F)Cameron Smith (+9)Mason Howell (a) (+9)Min Woo Lee (+9) (F)Byeong Hun An (+9) (F)Bryson DeChambeau (+10)Evan Beck (a) (+10)Joakim Niemann (+10) (F)Dustin Johnson (+10) (F)Jose Luis Ballester (+11)Sepp Straka (+11) (F)Justin Rose (+13)Justin Thomas (+12) (F)Noah Kent (a) (+14)Shane Lowry (+17)Matt Vogt (a) (+23) (F)
Masters champion Rory McIlroy comes into the second round at 4 over par, right at the projected cut line. He did not get off to a good start, notching a double-bogey 6 on the first and third holes. He made a clutch birdie putt on No. 9, but a bogey on No. 11 and a missed par putt on 14 put him in danger. McIlroy sank a birdie on the 15th, though, putting him at 7 over and right on the projected cut line.
In all likelihood, no. Reigning U.S. Open champ Bryson DeChambeau enters the second round at 3 over par, just above the projected cut line. Starting on the 10th hole, DeChambeau made three straight bogeys on Nos. 14-16 but birdied the 17th. He started bogey-birdie-bogey before hitting into a bunker and double-bogeying the fifth, then hitting bogeys on the next two holes, as well. DeChambeau finished the day with a 7-over 77 and is 10 over for the tournament.
The 60 best scores plus ties through two rounds qualifies players for the weekend at the U.S. Open. So, there are 5 players tied for 58th at 6 over par after 36 holes, the 63 golfers with scores at +6 or lower make the cut, while the rest will not play the final two rounds.
The cut line for most PGA Tour events is 65. The Masters cut line is 50, but the field at Augusta National is nearly half that of the U.S. Open. At the other two majors, the PGA Championship and British Open, the cut line is 70.
LIV Golf’s Phil Mickelson has never won the U.S. Open, finishing second six times along his storied career. He enters the second round at 4 over par, right along where the projected cut line has been most of the day. Lefty birdied No. 4 and two straight bogeys on the front nine, and a birdie on the par-4 11th had him seemingly safe. However, a double bogey on the 15th has him at 6 over, right at the official cut line.
Wyndham Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open champ, had a 4-over 74 in his first round. He’s played better in Round 2, but his two birdies on his first nine (he started on No. 10) were countered by five bogeys. Through 13 holes, Clark is at 6 over, in line to make the cut.
One of the favorites to win the U.S. Open, Jon Rahm struggled in the second round, shooting a 5-over 75 after Thursday’s 69. The LIV Golf star had three bogeys on the front nine and double-bogeyed the par-4 11th, rebounded with a birdie on the 12th and bogeyed the 18th. At 4 over for the tournament, he likely will make the cut.
Scottie Scheffler is No. 1 in the World Golf Rankings, took the PGA Championship in May and has won three of his last four tournaments overall. Yet he has faced trouble at Oakmont, finishing the first round 2 over par and was 5 over through 12 holes in the second round.
He opened his round with a birdie but hit a rough stretch starting on the 15th (he started on the back 9) with bogeys on every other hole through the third. But birdies on Nos. 2 and 4 and another on No. 7 helped him finish at 1 over for the day and 3 over through two rounds, which should be safe.
How many players make the cut at US Open?
Of the 156 golfers who entered the tournament, 60 are guaranteed to make the cut and play this weekend. That number can grow to account for ties, and players within 10 strokes of the lead also get to play the weekend. Last year, 74 players made the cut at 5 over par.
Where to watch US OpenTV channel: NBCStreaming: Peacock | Fubo (free trial)
Round 2 of the 2025 U.S. Open broadcasts nationally on Peacock from 6:30 a.m.-1 p.m. before switching to NBC from 1-7 p.m. Coverage finished on Peacock until 8 p.m. Featured group and hole streaming is available on U.S. Open All-Access through Peacock, the USGA app and usopen.com.
Watch U.S. Open live on Fubo (free trial)