Editor’s note: Follow along for live updates and highlights from Round 2 at the U.S. Open.
The U.S. Open leaderboard is filled with past major winners and so is the intriguing grind to simply make the cut at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.
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The 2026 U.S. Open cut line is a major talking point after a first round that began with heavy fog and a brutal wind made way for improved scoring conditions late Thursday afternoon and into Friday’s second round. When the U.S. Open was last held at Shinnecock Hills in 2018, the cut line wound up at +8. It’s unlikely to get that high this year.
Scottie Scheffler will be among the big names flirting with the cut line when his second round begins after a rocky 2-over 72 in the first round that featured several uncharacteristically wayward shots and more scrambling than usual. Bryson DeChambeau, Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka also need to play well to ensure they make the weekend at the U.S. Open.
USA TODAY Sports is tracking the projected 2026 U.S. Open cut line throughout Friday’s Round 2 at Shinnecock Hills, with live updates on where the projected cut line sits and what golfers are in danger of missing the cut this year. Follow along for the latest.
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
The U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock Hills as the field takes on one of golf’s most demanding major championship stages.
See moments from the opening round as players navigate the course and the leaderboard begins to form.
Above, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot from the 13th tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Warren Little, Getty Images)
1 / 25
Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
The U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock Hills as the field takes on one of golf’s most demanding major championship stages.
See moments from the opening round as players navigate the course and the leaderboard begins to form.
Above, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot from the 13th tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Warren Little, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Scottie Scheffler of the United States reacts after missing a putt on the third green during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Amateur Eric Lee of the United States plays a shot from the 16th tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Mike Mulholland, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Sam Burns of the United States looks on from the 13th green during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Andrew Redington, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Alejandro Tosti of Argentina plays a shot on the first hole during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
James Nicholas of the United States walks off the sixth tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Mike Mulholland, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Amateur Miles Russell of the United States walks to the first green during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Brooks Koepka of the United States looks on from the second tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Amateur Hamilton Coleman of the United States plays a shot from the 13th tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Andrew Redington, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Scottie Scheffler of the United States looks on from the seventh green during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Tommy Fleetwood of England lines up a putt on the 13th green during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Andrew Redington, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Scottie Scheffler of the United States lines up a putt on the first green during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland putts on the 10th green during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Kate McShane, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Scottie Scheffler of the United States looks on from the 13th hole during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Kate McShane, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Ludvig Åberg of Sweden smiles on the 15th green during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Kate McShane, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
J.J. Spaun of the United States and his caddie discuss a shot on the 13th hole during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Kate McShane, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Peter Uihlein of the United States plays a shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Warren Little, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Adrien Dumont de Chassart of Belgium plays a shot from the ninth tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Cliff Hawkins, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Amateur Eric Lee of the United States plays a shot on the ninth hole during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Warren Little, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Keith Mitchell of the United States plays a shot from the 13th tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Warren Little, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Rickie Fowler of the United States looks on from the second tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Amateur Jackson Koivun of the United States prepares to play a shot on the third hole during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Cliff Hawkins, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Ben James of the United States plays a shot from the 13th tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Warren Little, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland putts on the 18th green during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Kate McShane, Getty Images)
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Catch the best moments from the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland (L) and Tommy Fleetwood of England walk to the 18th tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026, in Southampton, New York.
(Kate McShane, Getty Images)
US OPEN 2026: Joaquin Niemann gets 2-stroke penalty for club throw
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US Open 2026 cut line right now
As of 11 a.m. ET on Friday at the 2026 U.S. Open, the cut line sits at +3 based on the scores of the top 60 golfers (and ties) on the current leaderboard. All golfers with a score of +3 or better would make it to the weekend at Shinnecock Hills.
What is the projected U.S. Open cut line for 2026?
The predictive model used by Datagolf.com currently projects +4 to be the most likely cut line for the 2026 U.S. Open (60.3% chance). There is currently a 19.6% chance it rises to +5, and a 17.8% chance it winds up at +3 by the end of Friday’s second round, according to the website.
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How is U.S. Open cut line determined?
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.
U.S. Open cut line bubble: Big names at risk
Scottie Scheffler: +2 (2:24 p.m. ET)
Bryson DeChambeau: +3 (9)
Brooks Koepka: +3 (1:40 p.m. ET)
Adam Scott: +3 (2:13 p.m. ET)
Sungjae Im: +4 (1:40 p.m. ET)
Tyrrell Hatton: +4 (1:51 p.m. ET)
Chris Gotterup: +5 (1:40 p.m. ET)
Cameron Smith: +5 (1:29 p.m. ET)
Graeme McDowell: +6 (1:29 p.m. ET)
J.J. Spaun: +7 (2:24 p.m. ET)
Daniel Berger: +7 (1:51 p.m. ET)
Si Woo Kim: +7 (1:51 p.m. ET)
Mason Howell (a): +8 (2:24 p.m. ET)
U.S. Open live leaderboard today
* — Started round on 10th hole(a) amateur
1. Wyndham Clark: -5 (10)
T2. William Mouw: -2 (15)
T2. Corey Conners: -2 (12)*
T2. Matt Fitzpatrick: -2 (11)
T2. Dustin Johnson: -2 (11)
T2. Xander Schauffele: -2 (10)*
T2. Sam Stevens: -2 (1:07 p.m. ET)
Click here for the latest leaderboard updates from the 2026 U.S. Open
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 US Open cut line tracker: Projected line, players at risk
