ERIN, Wis. — We are at the halfway point of the U.S. Women’s Open, and Mai Saigo, A Lim Kim and Nelly Korda highlight the top of the leaderboard. Major championships can’t be won on Friday, but they can be lost. And for those who missed the cut at Erin Hills, their hopes of lifting the trophy come Sunday have been dashed.
With the top 60 and ties making the weekend, the cut came Saturday morning at one-over par. Check out below for a list of 10 big names who will miss the weekend at Erin Hills.
Asterisk Talley (a)
What she shot: 71-75 (+2)
Talley burst onto the scene last summer in a big way as she competed in three USGA finals in the same summer, along with finishing as the low amateur at the U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club. However, after failing to make the cut at Erin Hills, it appears as if there will be a new low am this year. Either way, this won’t be the last we hear from this dynamic teenager.
Rose Zhang
What she shot: 76-70 (+2)
Zhang has been struggling this year as she’s dealt with a nagging neck injury — and in Round 1 she looked to be that same player who just hasn’t quite had it this season. She made a spirited charge on Friday as she posted a two-under par round, but in the end she came up one shot short of making the weekend.
Yuka Saso
What she shot: 74-72 (+2)
Saso’s 2025 struggles continued at Erin Hills as she missed her fourth cut in a row. With the defending champ missing the weekend, there will be a new U.S. Women’s Open champ crowned come Sunday evening.
Lexi Thompson
What she shot: 73-74 (+3)
Thompson emotionally announced her “retirement” (or partial retirement) at last summer’s U.S. Women’s Open as she said goodbye to this USGA championship. But after playing well in limited starts this spring, she qualified for the field based on her Rolex Ranking. Nevertheless, her week at Erin Hills will be cut short as she posted three over through 36 holes.
Jennifer Kupcho
What she shot: 76-71 (+3)
Kupcho put herself behind the eight ball with a four-over 76 in Round 1 and that hole proved to be too deep to dig out of. She played solid golf on Friday and posted an under-par round, but after Thursday’s struggles, she won’t be around for the weekend.
Nasa Hataoka
What she shot: 69-78 (+3)
The 2021 U.S. Women’s Open runner-up was in prime position to make a run at the title after posting 69 in Round 1 to sit just a shot off the lead, but her second round was an unmitigated disaster. With eight bogeys and just two birdies, she posted six-over 78 to cut her week short.
Jeeno Thitikul
What she shot: 75-72 (+3)
The curious case of Jeeno Thitikul continues. Despite being the undisputed second-best player in the world (behind Nelly Korda), Thitikul has never quite been able to figure out how to win a major. At just 22, she’s got plenty of time to knock one off, but for now she remains the best player to have never won a major.
Leona Maguire
What she shot: 76-72 (+4)
Maguire is a Solheim Cup stud, but that match-play prowess doesn’t translate to the majors. This marks her fourth missed cut at a major over her past seven starts.
Brooke Henderson
What she shot: 75-75 (+6)
Henderson is a two-time major winner, but the U.S. Women’s Open has always seemed to perplex her. She has just three top-10 finishes in 13 starts and has never finished better than T5. If she’s ever to win this title, it will have to wait another year.
Lilia Vu
What she shot: 80-82 (+18)
Vu’s performance is perhaps the most surprising of anyone in the field. As a two-time major winner, every time she tees it up she’s a threat to win. This week, though, that wasn’t the case. With two rounds in the 80s, she only bested one player in the entire field.
