Dustin Johnson is the world’s No. 1 player and the bookmakers’ favorite at the start of the 147th Open Championship.
Justin Thomas was No. 2 and there were expectations for him as well.
Both are heading home early after miserable play at Carnoustie.
D.J. was in trouble from the start after his opening 76. He never built any momentum and his 72 on Friday wasn’t much to talk about considering conditions were producing some low scores like the 65 from Tommy Fleetwood, the 66 from Xander Schauffele and a 67 by Zach Johnson.
Justin Thomas found himself near the top of the leaderboard on Thursday but Friday he ran into a stretch of holes to remember on the outward nine.
Thomas made three straight double-bogeys starting at the sixth hole and never recovered after a 42 for that nine. He’d finish with a miserable 77 and left for home early.
Another top-ranked player blew up on Friday as well.
Jon Rahm, like Thomas, opened with 69 in tough conditions but with a seemingly easier course on Friday, the Spanish Volcano erupted and went six-over on the final three holes of the outward nine for 41. He never recovered, shot 78 and the world’s No. 5 was out.
Overall, a very disturbing performance by those highly-ranked players.
