LIV Golf Stars Crash Out at Shinnecock Hills as PGA Tour Elite Dominate U.S. Open Leaderboard

The narrative of LIV Golf's top tier rescuing the league's reputation on the major stage collapsed on Friday at Shinnecock Hills. The startup league's three heaviest hitters—Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and Dustin Johnson—all failed to make the weekend at the 2026 U.S. Open. With Wyndham Clark leading the field at 7-under par and priced at +195 (Pinnacle), the path to victory has cleared significantly for the PGA Tour's elite, including pre-tournament favorite Scottie Scheffler at +1079 (Pinnacle).

DeChambeau's Historic Major Slump

For Bryson DeChambeau, a second-round 75 on Friday sealed his fate, marking the first time in his decade-long major career that he has missed three consecutive cuts. After opening with an even-par 70, back-to-back double bogeys on the third and fourth holes doomed his Friday round. DeChambeau, who struggled heavily with his iron play (ranking 145th in strokes gained: approach) and on the greens, had previously hinted at his vulnerability. He admitted to Flushing It Golf earlier this month that he "might miss all four" major cuts this year, adding, "That’s just golf." His missed cut leaves him at +200000 (Bovada) to lift the trophy.

Rahm and Johnson Join the Exodus

Jon Rahm's departure was equally sudden. The Spaniard began Friday in fifth place after completing a first-round 2-under 68, which included a birdie on the 17th to cap a bogey-free opening effort. However, a disastrous second-round 78—marred by a back-nine collapse and an audible expletive on the ninth green—sent him plummeting nearly 100 spots down the leaderboard. Rahm is now priced at +250000 (Bovada). Dustin Johnson, sitting at +72500 (DraftKings), also failed to survive the cutline. Meanwhile, Joaquin Niemann, who was penalized after throwing a club during his own Friday struggle, sits at +225000 (DraftKings) as one of the few LIV players left hovering near the weekend cut.

With LIV's marquee names watching from the sidelines, the tournament's outright market has shifted dramatically. The weekend at Shinnecock Hills will now showcase a leaderboard dominated by the PGA Tour's best, leaving the breakaway league to contemplate a highly disappointing showing at the year's third major.