Oakmont claimed another victim at the US Open on Friday.
After shooting a 6-over-76 in the opening round, Justin Thomas aimed for a turnaround but faced a setback on the par 5 12th hole. A 26-foot chance for birdie turned into a disappointing double bogey on the challenging green.
On his first try, he misjudged the breaks, leaving the ball on the right side of the hole. He missed again on his next attempt, this time to the left.
Eventually, Thomas managed to sink the putt, bringing his total to nine over.
The Front Nine was tough for the two-time PGA Championship winner, who recorded three bogeys and two double bogeys for a score of 41. He did manage to snag a birdie on the par 4 14th, though.
Thomas, whose last major victory came in 2022, shot even par on the final nine holes. However, despite his effort, he missed the cut after finishing with 12 over.
As the tournament progressed, Thomas emphasized the importance of patience when tackling Oakmont.
“It requires patience and discipline. If you’re careless—whether it’s drives, wedges, chips, or putts—you can really struggle, especially on courses like this,” he noted.
His best performance at the US Open was a tie at Winged Foot in 2020.
This week, Oakmont has not been forgiving to some of golf’s top players.
US Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau had a rough start on Thursday, while rival Rory McIlroy finished four over before speaking to the media.
Mike fell victim in a challenging opening round, shooting 9 over 79.
On a brighter note, JJ Spaun topped the leaderboard with a 4-under 66, avoiding any bogeys as he seeks his first major win.
He is set to tee off for his second round before 1 pm on Friday.
