The U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 promises a challenging weekend for golfers, with only the top 60 players and ties after 36 holes making the cut. In the first round, 64 players would have made the cut, but as conditions toughen on Friday, that number could increase. At the time of publication, the projected cutline stands at 79 players, as the field remains tightly bunched.
In comparison to other major tournaments, the Masters cuts the top 50 players and ties, while the PGA Championship, The Open Championship, and The Players Championship all cut at 70 players and ties. The U.S. Open and these three tournaments all have 156 players in their fields, making for tough competition.
Notable cut facts from the USGA include Beau Hossler as the youngest player to make the cut post World War II at 17 years and three months old, and Sam Snead as the oldest at 61 years, 10 months, and 19 days. The U.S. Open has seen a range of cut scores over the years, from a high of 15-over par in 1955 to a low of 2-over par in 2020. The 1996 U.S. Open had the most players make the cut at 108, while the least was at Baltusrol in 1993 with 88 players making the cut.
Family duos have also made their mark at the U.S. Open, with the Kirkwoods being the only father-son pair where both made the cut back in 1948. There have also been brother-sister teams, like Min Woo and Minjee Lee, who have made the cut in both U.S. and U.S. Women’s Opens in recent years.