33 big names who failed at US Open Final Qualifying (including the end of a 25-year streak)
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Being a big name in golf doesn’t always get you major starts. So who failed to make the cut in US Open Final Qualifying? Let’s dive in…
The world’s best will descend upon the iconic and often brutal Oakmont to attempt to carve their name into the history – and trophy – of America’s national championship. But there will be some huge names missing after failing to get through US Open Final Qualifying.
There were 13 qualifying events around the world – three on May 29 in Japan, England and Texas, as well as 10 more on June 2, including nine in the US and one in Canada.
Before you head to see who did book their spot in the third men’s major of the season – you’ll find a link to that at the bottom of the page – here are 33 household names who will not be in the field.
33 big names who fell at US Open Final Qualifying
In no particular order (other than alphabetical), they are…
Abraham Ancer
Two former LIV Golf teammates booked their spots at Oakmont in Japan, but it was a tough day in the States for another of the league’s cohorts. The Mexican’s rounds of 67 and 74 left him six shots off the mark required.
George Bryan
One half of the Bryan Bros YouTube team fell at Woodmont…
Wesley Bryan
…as did the other half. The pair missed out by 7 and 9 shots respectively.
Dean Burmester
The Stinger GC star won’t have the chance to improve on his US Open-best T56 after withdrawing at Piedmont.
Stewart Cink
The 2009 Open champion started well with an opening 70 at Woodmont before a second-round 75 left him well off the chase.
Joel Dahmen
The highly likeable American kicked off with a five-under 66 in Texas but was 2-over through 14 in his second round before throwing in the towel.
Jason Dufner
The Dufman had little hope on a ludicrously low-scoring day in Atlanta, where two players went through after finishing 18-under-par for 36 holes.
Alex Fitzpatrick
His older brother is a US Open champion and the younger Fitzpatrick was playing for the chance to make his debut, but it wasn’t to be this time. The Englishman labored to a first-round 76 and then opted to call it a day there.
Rickie Fowler
There was pure drama at Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club as Cameron Young birdied the first extra hole of a five-for-one playoff in Ohio. It also meant Fowler, who qualified for The Open at Royal Portrush thanks to his finish at the Memorial Tournament, was sent packing.
Sergio Garcia
The Spaniard endured a difficult PGA Championship. He made the cut but finished 18 shots behind eventual winner Scottie Scheffler in a tie for 67th. Garcia was so disappointed in his showing, in fact, that he said he would struggle to accept a captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup in September should Luke Donald give him the nod.
But the 45-year-old LIV player dusted himself off to take on US Open qualifying at Bent Tree.
A 6-under 65 had Garcia, who has played in every US Open since 2000, well placed after the first round but it all came down to his 36th and final hole of the day. He needed a birdie to get in automatically and a par to get into a playoff but a three-putt extinguished all hope and, minus a special invite, brought his streak of 25 straight US Open appearances to a sad end.
Talor Gooch
For those that missed out, they can at least console themselves with the knowledge that there will be an asterisk beside the eventual champion’s name due to the absence of American Gooch.
Since joining LIV in 2022, Gooch has been rather outspoken about the lack of major exemptions for players on the breakaway tour and has opted not to try and qualify for the game’s showpiece events on several occasions in protest. The less said about the rationale behind that decision the better.
Anyway, the American did at least join Garcia in Dallas and try to gain a place in the field for what would be just his third US Open start. Long story short, he played 15 holes in 1-over and decided to walk off, meaning he has missed out on six of the last eight majors.
Branden Grace
South African Grace didn’t even make it as far as the first tee, withdrawing from the event completely for reasons unknown.
Padraig Harrington
The Irishman recovered well from an opening 74 at Kinsale, but ultimately his second-round 66 at Kinsale left him one short and the Grand Slam dream will have to wait another year.
Lucas Herbert
The Ripper star is having a decent season on LIV, but his US Open hopes ended after an opening-round 77 at Woodmont.
Nicolai Hojgaard
The Dane was trying to join his twin brother in the Oakmont field, but came up short by two shots at West Palm Beach.
Max Homa
Another victim of Kinsale, Homa – carrying his own bag for the 36-hole slog – will feel he shouldn’t have even been in the playoff after three-putting the 36th hole to fall back into the pack. Ouch. The last major which didn’t have Homa in the field was the 2019 Open.
Beau Hossler
The American made a tidy 69 to start at Springfield before withdrawing midway through the second round. Must have been some blow up…
Zach Johnson
The former Masters and Open champion and Ryder Cup captain won’t be heading to Oakmont despite an 8-under 136 at Piedmont.
Matt Kuchar
Rounds of 74-70 left the American five off the pace at Kinsale, which will be a relief to bar staff in the Oakmont area. (How long can we still get away with that joke?)
Matteo Manassero
The 32-year-old played in last year’s US Open which was his first appearance in the competition since 2016. But he won’t be going Oakmont despite finishing at 3-under for 36 holes in Canada.
Graeme McDowell
The 2010 champion hasn’t played in the US Open since his 10-year winner’s exemption ran out. Rounds of 70-69 left him five off the pace in Florida.
Tom McKibbin
Legion XIII’s newest recruit is having a decent start to life on LIV, but consecutive rounds of 71 in North Carolina saw him miss the cut by five.
Adrian Meronk
LIV’s Adrian Meronk endured a day to forget at the Walton Heath. A 4-over 76 to open left him a mountain to climb and he continued to struggle in round two, playing the first 15 holes in eight-over before retiring and sparing himself any more misery.
Francesco Molinari
Another casualty in Surrey. The 2018 Open champion, whose brother Edoardo grabbed one of the eight automatic spots, posted a 4-under total to miss out on the playoff by three shots.
Other veterans failing to book their spot in the third major at the Walton Heath qualifier include Nicolas Colsaerts, Jorge Campillo, Robert Rock and Ross Fisher.
Alex Noren
One of the seven players who has made more than $15 million on the PGA Tour without ever winning a title. He won’t be adding to either of those stats at Oakmont after rounds of 70-72 at Kinsale.
Thomas Pieters
The Belgian LIV player was one of a handful of WDs at Woodmont.
Mito Pereira
The Chilean almost won the PGA Championship a couple of years ago but now he’s not even the best player from his country and withdrew from the US Open qualifier.
David Puig
The Spaniard won’t make it three US Open appearances in a row after withdrawing from the Woodmont qualifier.
Patrick Rodgers
Rodgers has almost $20 million in the bank thanks to the PGA Tour, but you’re not opening with a round of 78 and getting into the US Open, Pat…
Neal Shipley
Won the hearts of the golf world at last year’s Masters when the then amateur played with Tiger Woods in the final round at Augusta. But he won’t be making his professional major debut at Oakmont after rounds of 71-74 at West Palm Beach.
Harold Varner III
Another LIV hopeful, Varner just couldn’t get going at Duke – carding rounds of 71-74 to miss by 10.
Bubba Watson
The RangeGoat will not be grazing in the rough at Oakmont after withdrawing from the qualifier at Woodmont.
Lee Westwood
The Majesticks co-captain was anything but at Woodmont, and was another WD.
So who did make it through US Open Final Qualifying?
Well, you can see all the results right here.
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A number of tour winners are taking place in US Open Final Qualifying.
