Tiger, Rory, Spieth, and Day all miss the U.S. Open cut

Sixty-nine players made the cut.

The U.S. Open cut line eliminated every player in the 156-man field who shot worse than 8 strokes over par for the first two days. Among the departed from Shinnecock Hills are Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, and Jason Day. While those famous major champions head home, four amateurs and dozens of lesser names will play on in the Hamptons.

Woods finished at 10 over, and even that was only because he made two birdies on his last two holes Friday. Spieth and McIlroy played in a group with the far older Phil Mickelson, and all of them had a rough Thursday, but only the left-hander got it together on Friday. Mickelson shot a 1-under 69 and made the cut at 6 over through 36 holes.

Dustin Johnson, at 4 under for the championship, is the only player in the field under par. If Johnson merely plays to even par over the next two days, he’ll have an excellent chance to win his second U.S. Open in three years. Difficult winds at Shinnecock could throw a wrench into that plan, but he’s put himself in a tremendous position with these two days.