Dustin Johnson's 2026 US Open bid took a dramatic turn as he plummeted from second to outside the cut line in a mere 5 holes.

What happened?

Johnson, the 2016 U.S. Open champion, started strong but his game unraveled on the par-3 11th with a double bogey.

He followed this up with two bogeys before stabilizing with a par on the 14th.

Why it matters for Dustin Johnson

The par-4 15th proved disastrous for Johnson as he carded a snowman, moving him to 4 over for the tournament.

This meltdown occurred despite Johnson being 4 under in his first 28 holes of the week.

What comes next?

Johnson found himself in a greenside bunker on the 15th and his troubles escalated from there.

He hit a rock with his third shot, which rolled back into another trap, and after his fourth attempt, he still wasn't out of the sand.

And then his fifth shot sailed over the green, piling up the trouble.

Johnson finally reached the putting surface with his sixth shot and two putts later, he finished the hole with an 8.

But Johnson fought back to make the weekend.

He was outside the projected cut line with three holes to play but managed to recover.

Johnson's troubles started on the par-3 11th, where he made a double bogey, as reported by Cameron Jourdan of Golfweek.

The 2026 U.S. Open is being held at Shinnecock Hills.

Dustin Johnson's recovery will be crucial in determining his final standing.

So the pressure is on for Johnson to perform well in the remaining rounds.

As of Friday, Johnson was still in the running despite his setbacks.

The afternoon wave still had to play, which could impact the cut line.

Johnson's experience as the 2016 U.S. Open champion could aid his recovery.

He will need to draw on this experience to navigate the challenging course at Shinnecock Hills.

The cut line was a significant concern for Johnson after his meltdown.

But he managed to make the weekend, keeping his hopes alive.

Dustin Johnson's fight to make the cut was a significant storyline at the 2026 US Open.

His ability to recover from adversity will be key to his success.

The 2026 U.S. Open continues, with Johnson looking to improve his standing.