ARDMORE, PA — Stroke play has almost concluded at the 2026 U.S. Amateur, which means match play is set to begin Wednesday at Merion Golf Club.
The week began with 312 players battling it out at Merion and Philadelphia Country Club, but come Tuesday night the field was set to be reduced to the top 64 and ties, though the final few holes of stroke play will conclude Wednesday morning, with a playoff following to compete the match play bracket.
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The cut will be 2 over, with 17 players (as of end of play Tuesday) going to a playoff to fill out the match-play bracket. Everyone 3 over and worse missed the cut. The 17-for-11 playoff, barring any changes Wednesday morning, will go off the 13th hole and continue until the bracket is complete.
Here’s a look at the notables who are heading home after stroke play at the U.S. Amateur:
Editor’s note: Golfweek’s Cameron Jourdan is following all the action from Merion. You can follow along on his social media (X/Twitter, Instagram) and check out his coverage from Tuesday.
Williams, ranked 21st in the world, had an outside shot at a Walker Cup spot with a good week at Merion. Unfortunately, he’s missing out on the cut by a shot.
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The defending U.S. Amateur champion will miss out on match play and not have a chance to defend his title. He shot even par on Tuesday, but a 74 at Merion put him behind Monday.
Lee made the semifinals last year at Olympic Club, but the rising senior at Oklahoma State won’t be in the match play bracket come Wednesday. An opening 73 at Philly CC was too much to overcome Tuesday at Merion.
The college teammate of Preston Stout (and Walker Cup teammate while we’re at it) is heading home after a 74 at Philly CC on Monday doomed his chances of making match play.
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The U.S. Mid-Amateur champion shot 72 at Merion on Tuesday, but Monday’s 73 at Philly CC put him behind the 8-ball, and he couldn’t catch up.
The 2025 Walker Cupper has an outside shot of earning a spot on the team with a good week at Merion, but he’s going to miss the cut and likely not represent Team USA again next month.
Seventeen days ago, Maclauchlan was lifting a trophy of his own at the U.S. Junior. This week, however, he’s heading home after rounds of 72 (PCC) and 74 (Merion).
The world’s No. 1 amateur won medalist honors last year at Olympic Club, but this year an opening 75 at Merion on Monday was too much to overcome Tuesday. This was his first amateur event this summer, playing pro events four times (made 2/4 cuts) since winning the NCAA individual championship this spring.
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Grehan, the British Amateur champion, won’t make match play at Merion. He struggled Monday at the main host, shooting 77.
The Cinderella of last year’s U.S. Amateur, Abdo is heading home early after a 85 on Tuesday took away any chance he had of making match play. Last year, he reached the quarters.
Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, covering college and amateur golf, the PGA Tour and plenty more. Follow Cameron on X/Twitter (@Cam_Jourdan) or Instagram (@GolfweekJourdan).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Defending champion, world No. 1 among notables to miss cut in 2026 U.S. Amateur at Merion
