Justin Rose and Matt Fitzpatrick were among several notable players who missed the cut at The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. The tournament, known for its challenging conditions, saw many prominent names depart early, highlighting the demanding nature of links golf.
Rose, an Englishman, concluded his week prematurely, missing the cut by two strokes. His performance included a challenging moment at the 12th hole where his ball landed in a greenside bunker, leading to a dropped club and a frustrated reaction. He also missed a par putt, further illustrating the difficulties he faced. Royal Birkdale holds a significant place in Rose‘s career, as he finished fourth as an amateur at the event in 1998. His early exit means a wait for another major championship opportunity.
Fitzpatrick, another Englishman and world No. 3, also did not advance to the weekend. He recorded two rounds of 72. His agent, Brett Falkoff, commented on the situation, noting that Fitzpatrick felt he was unfairly penalized. Fitzpatrick attributed some of his struggles to the nature of links golf, stating that he felt he lacked the necessary “rub of the green” and that the firm conditions led to unpredictable bounces and lies. He also ranked near the bottom of the field in Strokes Gained: Around the Green.
The early departure of Fitzpatrick ended a streak of consecutive made cuts on Tour. He had become the holder of the longest such streak after Scottie Scheffler missed the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open. Hideki Matsuyama, who shot 67 to improve to 1-under, now holds the longest active streak on Tour with 28 consecutive made cuts.
Several other well-known players also missed the cut at Royal Birkdale. These included Jordan Spieth, the 2017 Open champion at this venue, who shot two rounds of 73. Spieth faced significant challenges, including a quadruple bogey at the 17th and a double bogey at the 14th, which contributed to his early exit. Akshay Bhatia, who has had a strong year, also missed the cut, marking his third missed cut in four majors this season.
Cameron Smith, the 2022 Open champion, also failed to make the weekend. He rallied from a slow start on Thursday with four birdies in his first eight holes but made a crucial mistake at the par-3 15th, resulting in a double bogey. Smith signed for 69 on Friday. Aaron Rai, winner of the PGA Championship, missed the cut by one stroke after missing a 22-foot par putt at the final hole. He managed only one birdie on Friday and two for the championship.
Henrik Stenson, the 2016 Open champion, started with a 68 on Thursday but struggled with a 74 on Friday. This marks the fourth time in the last six Opens that he has left early, with his putting identified as a key factor in his performance. Billy Horschel‘s slump continued, as he missed his sixth cut in his last eight starts. Harris English also missed the cut for the third consecutive start, including back-to-back majors.
Wyndham Clark, last month’s U.S. Open champion, shot 73-70, marking his first missed cut since the PGA Championship. Despite making five birdies and an eagle on Friday, he also recorded back-to-back double bogeys at holes 2 and 3. Tom Kim, winner of the Genesis Scottish Open a week prior, shot 70-73 and also missed the cut, his first since late April. Viktor Hovland, despite a win at the Travelers Championship, missed his second cut in his last three Opens and his third straight major this season. He struggled with his tee shots and around the green play.
Jason Day, who made only one birdie on Thursday, also missed the cut for the second consecutive year at The Open, ranking low in Strokes Gained: Putting. Joaquin Niemann, who struggled with his approach game and putting, missed the cut for the third time in the last four years. He failed to make a birdie on Thursday and went 23 holes before recording one.
Amidst these early departures, Tommy Fleetwood, who shot 67 to reach 4 under, carried the hopes of the English fans. Francesco Molinari, who won the Claret Jug in similar conditions in 2018, was 4 under and tied for sixth. Sam Burns, who had a record-setting 62, noted he is learning to “embrace the chaos.”
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Source: pgatour.com
