PINEHURST, N.C. – For the first two rounds of this U.S. Open, reigning U.S. Amateur champion Matt Fitzpatrick played in the traditional pairing alongside Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose.
What did they have in common by day’s end Friday? They were all assured a weekend tee time at Pinehurst No. 2. Fitzpatrick shot 71-73 to sit in a tie for 44th, one shot inside the cut line.
The 19-year-old Englishman, who will turn pro next week at the Irish Open, was the low amateur at the British Open and missed the cut at the Masters.
When asked whether he felt like his early performance here validated his decision to join the pro ranks, he said, “I think I’ve still got a bit to go. I think everyone can say that, I guess, whether they’re trying to win a major, keep their card or win their first event. But for me, at the minute, it’s just trying to keep on making cuts and taking it from there, really.”
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Brian Campbell, a rising senior at Illinois, bogeyed his last hole of the day, the par-3 ninth, to miss the cut by one.
With only Fitzpatrick playing the weekend, it marked the fewest amateurs to make the U.S. Open cut since they were shut out in 2007. Prior to this week, at least two amateurs had made the cut in nine of the past 11 Opens.
The other 10 amateur performances: Cory Whitsett (146), Hunter Stewart (146), Cameron Wilson (148), Maverick McNealy (150), Robby Shelton (153), Oliver Goss (154), Brandon McIver (155), Will Grimmer (157) and Andrew Dorn (159).