AR
Jason Day withdrew midway through the opening round at the U.S. Open due to injury.
Broadcast cameras caught the former PGA champ hopping in a golf cart after 10 holes, with the USGA stating Day cited a back injury as the reason for pulling out.
The 38-year-old was struggling prior to exiting, as he made seven bogeys in his first nine holes. Day started his day on Shinnecock’s second nine.
Jason Day has withdrawn from the 126th U.S. Open due to injury.
He was +7 thru 10 holes. pic.twitter.com/r9APtzHfkF
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 18, 2026
Day entered the week No. 47 in the Official World Golf Ranking. His season got off to an auspicious start with a T-2 at the American Express in January, and posted a T-6 at the Houston Open and T-12 at the Masters. However, the Aussie has struggled since, a T-38 at the limited-field Cadilac Championship his only top-40 finish in the past two months.
Day has five top 10s in his U.S. Open career, including two runner-up finishes, although the last top 10 came in 2016.
MORE GOLF DIGEST U.S. OPEN COVERAGE
U.S. Open 2026 Power Rankings: The entire field ranked at Shinnecock Hills
U.S. Open 2026 prize money: Here’s the record payout each golfer will earn at Shinnecock Hills
The Shinnecock greens are so tough Alex Fitzpatrick is practicing with … a VR headset?
Why players were strategically skipping practice rounds on Monday
Tommy Fleetwood has made Open history that irks the hell out of him … and makes him proud
The USGA delayed its rollback plan to save golf from something much worse
Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media
Main Image: David Cannon
