Trevor Immelman, former Masters champion, came to Rory McIlroy’s defense following the second round of the 2025 US Open at Oakmont, amidst growing online debate over the possibility of disqualifying McIlroy after his visible frustration on the course. The four-time major winner showed signs of anger by throwing his club on the 12th hole and breaking a tee marker on the 17th, actions which some fans and commentators argued could lead to disqualification under USGA regulations.
Immelman dismissed these disqualification claims during a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on June 14, emphasizing the pressure of competing at such a high level. He noted:
“Rory threw a club on 12, broke the tee marker on 17, and birdied 18 to make the cut.”
“By that logic 1/4 of the field would be DQ’d…..This type of set up takes the guys to the edge.”
“I live in a glass house so shouldn’t throw stones….you play on Tour long enough… you can lose it at times. From experience I can tell you that it feels good in the moment but bad by the end of the night.”
Immelman’s perspective sheds light on the emotional strain athletes experience during major tournaments and rejects the notion that McIlroy’s actions were disqualifiable offenses.
McIlroy’s Challenging Second Round Leaves Fans Divided
Despite making the cut for the weekend rounds, Rory McIlroy’s second day at the 2025 US Open raised questions about his form and composure. After opening his round with two double bogeys within the first three holes, McIlroy found himself dropping down the leaderboard amid growing frustration. Sitting at 6-over-par after two rounds, he trails the leader Sam Burns by nine shots.
McIlroy’s struggles were punctuated by his approach shot on Oakmont’s 12th hole, where a poor shot forced him into thick rough. This led to a visible outburst, including a club throw, though he ultimately managed to save par on the hole. His frustration continued at the 17th hole where, after a tee shot landed in a greenside bunker, he broke a tee marker. Yet, he still secured a par on that hole.
Showing resilience, McIlroy recovered with a birdie on the 18th hole to solidify his place just inside the cutline. His ability to endure challenging conditions at Oakmont highlights both his competitive spirit and the emotional highs and lows that professional golfers face under major championship pressure.
Notable Players Who Missed the Cut at the 2025 US Open
The 7-over-par cut at Oakmont proved unforgiving for several prominent golfers, preventing them from advancing to the weekend. Among those failing to make the cut were established names such as Phil Mickelson, Cameron Smith, Patrick Cantlay, Dustin Johnson, and Tommy Fleetwood, each finishing at +8 or worse after two rounds.
The list of notable casualties also included Justin Thomas at +12, Justin Rose at +14, and Bryson DeChambeau at +10. Young amateurs like Benjamin James, Jackson Koivun, and Riley Lewis also missed advancing, illustrating the depth of challenge posed by the course setup.
Below are some of the key players who did not make the cut:
- Tom Hoge: +8
- Benjamin James (a): +8
- Ludvig Åberg: +8
- Wyndham Clark: +8
- Patrick Cantlay: +8
- Lucas Glover: +8
- Cameron Smith: +8
- Phil Mickelson: +8
- Davis Thompson: +8
- Jackson Koivun (a): +8
- Edoardo Molinari: +8
- Thorbjørn Olesen: +8
- Byeong Hun An: +9
- Erik van Rooyen: +9
- Min Woo Lee: +9
- Bud Cauley: +9
- Stephan Jaeger: +9
- Tyler Weaver (a): +9
- Scott Vincent: +9
- Tommy Fleetwood: +9
- Lanto Griffin: +9
- Mark Hubbard: +9
- Jinichiro Kozuma: +9 (17)
- Takumi Kanaya: +10
- Jacob Bridgeman: +10
- Dustin Johnson: +10
- Joaquin Niemann: +10
- Frankie Harris (a): +10
- Kevin Velo: +10
- Trent Phillips: +10
- Jacques Kruyswijk: +10
- Bryson DeChambeau: +10
- Gary Woodland: +10
- Akshay Bhatia: +10
- Michael La Sasso (a): +10
- Jackson Buchanan: +10 (17)
- Riley Lewis: +10 (16)
- Sepp Straka: +11
- Nick Dunlap: +11
- Zac Blair: +11
- Evan Beck (a): +11
- Lance Simpson (a): +11 (17)
- Justin Thomas: +12
- Riki Kawamoto: +12
- Emilio Gonzalez R.: +12
- Eric Cole: +12
- Chandler Blanchet: +12
- Maxwell Moldovan: +12
- Jose Luis Ballester: +12
- Mason Howell (a): +12 (17)
- Frederic LaCroix: +13
- Sam Bairstow: +13
- Nico Echavarria: +13
- Austen Truslow: +13
- Joey Herrera: +13
- James Hahn: +13
- Cameron Tankersley (a): +13 (17)
- Joe Highsmith: +14
- Matthew Jordan: +14
- Harrison Ott: +14
- Justin Rose: +14
- Davis Riley: +15
- Noah Kent (a): +15
- Zach Bauchou: +15 (17)
- Bryan Lee (a): +16
- Zach Pollo (a): +16
- Alvaro Ortiz: +17
- Doug Ghim: +17
- Shane Lowry: +17
- Brian Campbell: +17
- Chase Johnson: +17 (17)
- Guido Migliozzi: +18
- Preston Summerhays: +18
- Roberto Díaz: +18
- Grant Haefner: +18
- Alistair Docherty: +18
- Richard Bland: +18
- Andrea Pavan: +19
- Joakim Lagergren: +19 (17)
- Yuta Sugiura: +20
- George Kneiser: +20
- Matt McCarty: +20
- Trevor Gutschewski (a): +20
- Will Chandler: +22
- Matt Vogt (a): +23
- Brady Calkins: +25 (17)
- Justin Hicks: +27
- Justin Lower: +27
- George Duangmanee: +35
The Wider Impact of McIlroy’s Emotional Outburst at Oakmont
Rory McIlroy’s frustration and the ensuing social media debate highlighted the intense psychological demands players endure at a major championship like the US Open. Trevor Immelman’s defense underscores a shared understanding among tour veterans that emotional reactions, while visible and dramatic, are part of the human side of professional golf.
The controversy also reflects ongoing discussions about the USGA’s rules and their interpretations, especially regarding player conduct under pressure. McIlroy’s ability to still make the cut despite a difficult round represents his resilience, but also raises questions about how much emotion players can show without risking penalization.
As McIlroy prepares for the weekend rounds, attention will remain on whether he can regain composure and mount a comeback. Meanwhile, the US Open continues to test its field’s endurance, serving as a reminder that even the sport’s biggest stars are vulnerable to the relentless challenges Oakmont presents.