Editor’s note: Follow along for updates and highlights from Round 1 of the U.S. Open.
The 2026 U.S. Open is shaping up to be a brutal test for the world’s best golfers. High winds, a two-hour fog delay and the challenges already presented by Shinnecock Hills Golf Club have produced a Round 1 leaderboard with only a select few under par, much like the last time the U.S. Open was held at the Southampton, New York course.
The tricky greens and conditions are changing from hole to hole, with significant wind gusts projected to affect the rest of Thursday’s tee times and Friday’s second round. There are more players than usual struggling as a result and the projected cut line will loom large over every mistake.
Scottie Scheffler, defending U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun and Si Woo Kim are among the top golfers off to rough starts, though there’s plenty of time left to work their way back into contention. Only the top 60 golfers (and ties) after 36 holes of tournament play make the cut for the final two rounds this weekend.
Here’s a live cut line tracker for the 2026 U.S. Open, as well as the current leaderboard and an updated projection of where the cut line is right now and where the cut line is most likely to fall by the end of play on Friday, June 19:
US Open 2026 cut line right now
As of 3:45 p.m. E.T. on Thursday at the 2026 U.S. Open, the projected cut line is +3 based on the scores of the top 60 golfers (and ties) on the current leaderboard. All golfers with a score of +6 or better would make it to the weekend at Shinnecock Hills. However, only 112 of the 156 golfers in the field have teed off.
US Open cut line rules
The top 60 golfers (and ties) make the 36-hole cut at the 2026 U.S. Open. The cut line at last year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club was +7. The cut line during the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills wound up at +8.
Live projected U.S. Open cut line
The predictive model used by Datagolf.com currently projects +4 to be the most likely cut line for the 2026 U.S. Open (40.8% chance). There is currently a 19.1% chance it rises to +5, and a 29.1% chance it falls to +3 by the end of Friday’s second round, according to the website.
US Open golfers on cut bubble
- Sungjae Im: +4 (F)
- Tyrrell Hatton: +4 (F)
- Chris Gotterup: +5 (F)
- Cameron Smith: +5 (F)
- Graeme McDowell: +6 (F)
- J.J. Spaun: +7 (F)
- Daniel Berger: +7 (F)
- Si Woo Kim: +7 (F)
- Mason Howell (a): +8 (F)
U.S. Open live leaderboard today
* — Started round on 10th hole(a) amateur
- 1. Wyndham Clark: -6 (16)*
- T2. Sam Stevens: -2 (F)*
- T2. Ryder Cowan (a): -2 (F)
- T2. Max McGreevy: -2 (F)
- T2. Matthew Fitzpatrick: -2 (16)
- T2. Jon Rahm: -2 (13)*
- T2. Dustin Johnson: -2 (15)
- T2. Gary Woodland: -2 (15)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is the U.S. Open cut line? Live updates, projections for 2026
Reporting by Mark Giannotto and James H. Williams, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect