SAN FRANCISCO — The rule was inserted in the kind of stealth manner the NFL’s Colts used to slink out of Baltimore 28 years ago — with more than a twinge of guilt.
Quietly — with no public announcement — at last year’s meeting of the USGA Executive Committee, the 10-shot rule was voted out for the U.S. Open in an effort to combat a large, unmanageable weekend field.
“There are pros and cons to the 10-shot rule,” USGA executive director Mike Davis said.
At the end of yesterday’s second round at Olympic Club there were a lot of players, including some of the biggest stars in the game as well as some feel-good stories, seeing the con side of the rule, because they missed the cut because of it.
Among the victims of the no 10-shot rule, which allows players within 10 shots of the lead to make the cut, were Casey Martin, Dustin Johnson, Louis Oosthusizen, Lucas Glover and Vijay Singh, all of whom were 9-over.
“Ultimately we did it because we felt like we could get ourselves in a bind at some point with a very large cut, which would mean the final two rounds we’d have to go in groups of three or we’d have to go 1 and [9] tees, and we just didn’t want to do that for the U.S. Open,’’ Davis said.
The rule change seemed to catch some players by surprise, but Davis said the adjustment was noted on this year’s application and in each participant’s registration packet.
Zach Johnson said he found out when signing his card Thursday and officials began telling other players after their rounds.
“It’s just odd they didn’t announce it,” Johnson said.
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The wait to win a major is beginning to get on Luke Donald’s nerves.
The No. 1 ranked player in the world has never won a major and that streak continued this week when he missed the cut after shooting 11-over for the first two rounds.
Donald, whose No. 1 ranking has been questioned despite the fact he has been such a consistent player who has won some significant tournaments, conceded Friday his lack of a major championship is wearing on him.
“Certainly that’s the one part of my golfing résumé, in the last few years especially, that I need to continually address,’’ Donald said. “I want one more than any of you guys [reporters] know.’’I was just not feeling comfortable with the swing this week. That happens — not just major weeks but other weeks, too.
“But unfortunately at major weeks that’s going to be magnified even more.’’
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Casey Martin’s incredible ride ended when he finished 9-over par for the last two days 14 years after finishing in a tie for 23rd at the 1998 U.S. Open, also at Olympic Club. He had a chance to get to 8-over, which ended up being the cut, but Martin was unable to hole his putt to make the cut.
“As a competitor I’m disappointed right now, but these are experiences that don’t come around very often,’’ Martin said. “It’s been a special week.’’
When he was reminded that, despite not having competed in six years, he shot a lower score than the likes of the top-ranked Donald, among others, Martin said: “That’s nice, but I am just glad I wasn’t in last place. I’m glad I beat them for one day, but I would feel better if I beat them for the whole tournament.’’
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Cameron Wilson, the Norwalk, Conn., native who’s entering his junior year at Stanford, missed the cut in his first major after shooting a second consecutive 77 to finish 14-over par.
“It was a thrill,’’ Wilson said. “I really would have liked to play better, but when I look back on it it was a great experience.’’
Wilson, who played with Martin and has played Olympic a number of times, said “it’s such a different course than what it normally is” when not set up for a U.S. Open.
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Michael Thompson, who was the first-round leader at 4-under par, shot 75 to fall to 1-over par overall, still well in contention. … Rumson (N.J.) Country Club pro Brian Gaffney missed the cut at 15-over par, shooting 77-78.