Bryson DeChambeau‘s own words came back to haunt him. Around 10 days ago, the two-time US Open champion had lamented about the infamous Oakmont rough, saying, “That is cooked beyond belief,” after seeing his ball barely visible through the 5-inch grass during a practice round. Now, cut to Friday and it looks like the reigning champion didn’t just predict Oakmont’s brutality, but accidentally forecasted his own downfall into golf’s most exclusive and unwanted club, too…

After an unfortunate day where the 31-year-old shot a 7-over 77 to finish 10 over two rounds, he became the first defending US Open Champion to miss the cut since Gary Woodland in 2020. The man who analyzed every brutal aspect of the course somehow missed the most critical detail. He’d become Exhibit A of everything he feared about this place, and his Instagram post laid bare his devastation just hours after his elimination.

“Golf is hard. Oakmont is even harder,” he wrote from the very course that ended his title defense. “Even though this stings now and I didn’t put together the performance I was hoping for, it’s just another bump in the road,” DeChambeau continued. “I appreciate all the support from everyone. Good luck to the rest of the field this week! See you guys in Dallas in a couple of weeks,” he concluded. While social media saw a much calmer, and understanding side of the golfer, the same can’t be said of what was going on a few hours ago.

After a painfully wild swing into the rough on 18, DeChambeau was seen visibly frustrated even muttering, “(Expletive) 10 yards long.” The simple words carried profound weight. They revealed a champion grappling with unexpected failure, as he had been putting on quite a show so far this season. Coming off a T5 finish at Augusta, a T2 at the PGA Championship, and a win in Korea, everyone expected better. Perhaps he can paint a perfect comeback at LIV Golf Dallas from June 27-29.

But while DeChambeau is already looking ahead, what made him say such an early goodbye? The numbers tell the brutal story. He shot 73 in the first round despite hitting 13 of 18 greens. Three three-putts destroyed his scorecard completely. His second round proved even worse with a devastating 77. He dropped five shots over just five holes. What’s more? The financial impact adds another layer of pain.

The veteran missed out on potentially $4.29 million in prize money. Instead, he walked away with just $10,000. Notably, he is not the only US Open champion to miss the cut. The likes of Woodland (10 over; 2019 champ), Justin Rose (14 over; 2013 champ), Dustin Johnson (10 over; 2016 champ), Wyndham Clark (8 over; 2023 champ), and Lucas Glover (8 over; 2009 champ) also missed the 7-over cuts.

Veteran golfer Phil Mickelson—who’s yet to clinch a trophy at Oakmont, and is playing in the final year of his five-year Open exemption after winning the 2021 PGA Championship—also got eliminated with an 8 over (courtesy of a second-round 74).

As for Dechambeau, his struggles began early with a rules mishap. He nearly incurred penalty strokes on the fourth hole. “That was dumb,” he said under his breath afterward. The incident set a negative tone for his entire week. His devastation becomes even more significant when viewed through the lens of golf history. DeChambeau didn’t just lose a tournament, he achieved something scarce in championship golf.

Bryson DeChambeau joins rare club

Only eight defending champions of the US Open have missed the cut this century. That represents roughly 31% of title defenses since 2000. The rarity makes DeChambeau’s exit particularly shocking. The defending champion curse has struck multiple times in recent history.

Martin Kaymer missed the cut in 2014. Dustin Johnson suffered the same fate in 2016. Rory McIlroy couldn’t make the weekend in 2011. DeChambeau ironically joins this unwanted list after successfully defending once before.

His previous title defense tells an entirely different story. After winning at Winged Foot in 2020, DeChambeau managed a respectable T26 finish at Torrey Pines. The contrast between his two defenses couldn’t be starker. This time offered no silver lining whatsoever. The historical context completely amplifies the disappointment further. Oakmont has humbled many champions throughout history. Yet defending champions usually rise to meet their challenge. DeChambeau’s failure breaks that pattern dramatically.