9 surprising players who missed the cut for the 2026 Open Championship
Nine years ago, Jordan Spieth won the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale. It was his third major when he was 23 years old. Everything seemed to be in front of him. Golf sometimes has different opinions.
Spieth returns to Royal Birkdale this week having won just two times since that victory in 2017. He’s still holding on to three career majors, and, despite his claims that he’s on the verge of a comeback, he hasn’t shown any real tangible signs that he’s found the key to returning to the top of the golf world. But there was hope that this week, returning to the venue where he last won, Jordan Spieth might find Jordan Spieth again.
“I’m not going to believe that until I get to the point where my life, whatever that might be because, I mean, if you stop reaching your ceiling, I don’t see the need to play anymore,” Spieth said Monday. “For me it’s always about doing everything I can to try to be the best in the world because I know I can be. I have been. It’s nice to have a plan.”
Spieth may have a plan, but he’s been building it. The ETA on the completion date is unknown, but it was not available this week in Southport.
He opened with a three-over 73 and then bombed on Friday, shooting a 77 that included a three-putt from three feet and a quadruple bogey on the par-5 17th.
He is one of a surprising nine players who missed the cut at Royal Birkdale. One or more players will play on the weekend.
Surprising players who missed the Open cut
Jordan Spieth
That’s intense: 73-77 (10-over)
Why it’s amazing: Spieth has played some good golf this year but has failed to put it all together in one tournament. He entered the week having made the cut 16 out of 18 times on the year but had no top ten. Royal Birkdale felt like a place where Spieth could put the pieces together. Instead, he limped out of the gates and boarded the plane on Friday as he tried to push the pedal to make the weekend.
Justin Rose
That’s intense: 75-68 (3-over)
Why it’s amazing: Another player with fond memories of Birkdale, Rose was a top player to be in the mix this week at Southport. But he made six bogeys and a double in the first round and didn’t have enough to get him back within the cutline on Friday.
Matthew Fitzpatrick
That’s intense: 72-72 (4-over)
Why it’s amazing: Fitzpatrick has been one of the top four players in the world this year. He has won three times and arrived at Royal Birkdale from T3 in Scotland. The Englishman did not make the cut at Royal Birkdale and bemoaned golf’s poor links luck after missing the cut by three shots.
“It’s disappointing, but like I said, I didn’t really feel like I played that bad,” Fitzpatrick said Friday. “I hit three shots today that I hit the way I wanted, and one was in the woods about 30 yards. One was on the green for 15 seconds and then it went off the green, and that was another shot. Then I hit one a little bit lower than the normal number, and suddenly it’s 15 yards from the bunker. So I got four shots, and I hit the golf links well.
Viktor Hovland
That’s intense: 70-74
Why it’s amazing: Another trendy contender this week, Hovland is a few weeks away from defeating Scottie Scheffler in the Travelers qualifier. He followed that up with a strong week in Scotland and looked to be in a good position to win the first major of his career. Instead, Hovland played 4-10 holes in five overs on Friday and missed the cut twice.
Wyndham Clark
That’s intense: 73-70
Why it’s amazing: Clark has arguably been the hottest player in the world since missing the cut at the PGA. He won the CJ Byron Nelson trophy and went to the wire at Shinnecock Hills to win his second US Open. Clark tied for 13th in Scotland and came in as popular choice to be in the mix again at the grand final. But a 73 in Round 1 put him behind the gun, and two double bogeys on Friday sealed his fate. Clark charged late, going birdie-birdie-eagle from 15 to 17, but it was too little, too late.
Tom Kim
That’s intense: 70-73
Why it’s amazing: Kim recently won the Scottish Open and is a talented links player. He opened with a strong 70, putting him in a position to be part of Birkdale. But Friday was a different story. Kim opened with a bogey and never got back on track, eventually making six bogeys for three birdies to go home early.
Cam Smith
That’s intense: 73-69
Why it’s amazing: Smith appeared to be turning a corner in the majors when he tied for seventh at the PGA Championship. He missed the cut at Shinnecock but still looked in good shape, coming into Birkdale. The former Open champion who won the St. Fast and fiery Andrews, Smith appeared to be a good bet going into the race this week. But Smith opened with a 3-over 73 and needs a strong Friday to secure a spot for the weekend. On Friday morning, Smith appeared to have found his clue. He birdied two, four, seven and eight, then bogeyed 6, to jump back within the cut for par. Smith made five straight pars to start the back 9, but there was trouble on the par-3 15th. He missed the green with his tee shot and hit his chip just four feet. His second chip left him 12 feet for bogey, but he missed the putt and went in for two. He couldn’t take a shot on the last three holes and would miss his eighth major cut in his first nine starts.
“Just one bad swing. That’s a golf course in the majors,” Smith said of the double bogey at 15. “They always ask questions. If you beat the poor, you have to support them well. Yes, I wish I could repay that.”
Joaquin Niemann
What’s more: 76-68
Why it’s amazing: Niemann’s great heroic struggles are well documented. But after a T18 at Aronimink and a T7 at the US Open, it looked like Niemann had turned a corner. But a birdie-free first round of 76 led to a big early exit.
Padraig Harrington
That’s intense: 80-69
Why it’s amazing: The 54-year-old missing the cut was not surprising in itself, but the opening round of 80 was unexpected. Harrington finished T18 at Aronimink and won the US Senior Open a few weeks ago. He is a two-time Open champion who still has the game to play in the majors. He improved by 11 shots on Friday but didn’t see much of a difference in his game.
“I was trying to hit a tee shot for a long time Thursday. The tee shot is 88. Two fat ladies: 88. I tried every shot, trying to break 80. I shot 80,” Harrington told GOLF’s Michael Bamberger on Friday.
“Today, 69. Difference between Thursday and Friday? Just golf. I didn’t play any better today than yesterday. I can tell you after yesterday, I was determined to go out and shoot a good number. I didn’t play well yesterday and maybe I should have shot 75. I didn’t play much better today. Yesterday I had a few breaks that didn’t help me. But there was a little difference.
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