U.S. Open cut line: Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler fail to make the cut

Oakmont Country Club has proven to be a difficult challenge at the 2016 U.S. Open and some of the best players in the world were up to the task. That includes Rory McIlroy -- the No. 3 player in the world -- who finished the second round at 8-over, two shots off the cut of 6-over.

McIlroy’s U.S. Open got off to a rough start with a 7-over round of 77 in the first round. That put him in a huge hole not only to contend, but just to make the cut. Early on Saturday, it seemed McIlroy was going to be able to dig himself out of the hole and at least make the weekend, if not get back into contention. He birdied four of his first six holes to move to 3-over, well inside the cut line. That momentum quickly vanished on the back nine, starting with a double bogey on his 12th hole of the day. Following another bogey, McIlroy started No. 9 -- his 18th hole -- at 6-over and right on the cut line. His drive found a troublesome bunker. He went for the green in two, but didn’t get the ball out of the bunker. After being forced to chip out, McIlroy went on to make double bogey and fall off the cut.

This is McIlroy’s first missed cut in a major since the 2013 British Open. It’s the first time he’s missed a cut in the U.S. Open since 2012.

Phil Mickelson’s quest for a U.S. Open to complete the career grand slam will have to wait for at least another year. Mickelson shot 74-73 to finish at 7-over and one shot off the cut line. The front nine was especially troublesome for Mickelson as he finished 7-over on that stretch over two rounds. Mickelson has not finished better than T28 in the U.S. Open since his T2 finish in 2013.

Rickie Fowler’s struggles in major championships continue as he was never a factor this week, finishing at 11-over. Two years ago, Fowler finished in the top five of every major. This season, he’s yet to make the weekend, missing the cut at the U.S. Open and the Masters. Fowler and Mickelson both missed the cut at the Players Championship as well, not a group you want to be in.

World No. 1 Jason Day turned in an excellent second round 69 to make the cut at 5-over. He struggled in the first round and could have easily been headed for an early exit, but Day got it rolling in the second round and safely made the weekend. Defending champion Jordan Spieth also made the cut, shooting 72-72 to sit at 4-over. He’ll have a lot of work to do if he’s going to be a factor on Sunday.

The top 60 players plus ties make the cut at the U.S. Open. This year, 67 players made the weekend. Here is a complete look at the leaderboard through two rounds and which players made the cut.