Early Departures and Missed Cuts
The second day of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale concluded with several notable players missing the cut, highlighting the demanding nature of the tournament. Among those departing early was Justin Rose, who finished with a 2-under 68 in the second round after an initial 76. Rose, who had a significant moment at Royal Birkdale in 1998 as a 17-year-old amateur, expressed a desire to enjoy the walk up the 18th hole despite his early exit. Spectators offered a warm reception, acknowledging his career accomplishments.
Matt Fitzpatrick, ranked among the top players globally, also missed the cut. His frustration was evident through his reactions to missed putts, which he attributed to the unpredictable bounces of links golf. Fitzpatrick noted that despite hitting decent shots, he encountered little luck, resulting in a 4-over par finish. His younger brother, Alex Fitzpatrick, however, advanced to the weekend, positioned four shots behind the leaders.
Jordan Spieth, a past winner at Royal Birkdale in 2017, also failed to make the cut. Despite an early pair of birdies, his round was marred by three-putts on the seventh and 14th holes, and a 9 on the 17th, leading to a 77 and a total of 10-over 150. This placed him nine shots outside the cut line. Other major champions, including PGA champion Aaron Rai and U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, also missed the cut. Harry Hall of England became the only player to miss the cut in all four majors this year.
The cut line for the tournament was set at 1-over 141, marking the second consecutive year that 1-over par was the cut score. This was influenced by low scoring, including record-tying 62s achieved by Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns. Cameron Smith, who won the Open at St. Andrews in 2022, missed the cut in three of the four majors this year, following a complete miss in 2025. Smith’s struggles included an inability to set up birdie opportunities within 20 feet on the back nine of his round of 69, missing the cut by one shot.
Rules Controversy and Player Reactions
A significant rules controversy emerged involving Bryson DeChambeau. The incident centered on a prohibited action where a player is not permitted to move, bend, or break any growing or attached natural object. Grant Moir, the executive director of governance for The R&A, clarified that while players can take reasonable actions to establish a stance, they must use the least intrusive method and are not entitled to a normal stance or swing.
DeChambeau and The R&A discussed the penalty after play, with DeChambeau’s agent, Brett Falkoff, stating that DeChambeau felt unfairly penalized due to a perception of not being careful enough in a sensitive area. The ruling had substantial consequences for DeChambeau’s standing in the tournament. His signed score of 4-under 66, which included a bogey at the fifth hole, was changed to a 2-under 68 with a triple bogey. This adjustment dropped him from solo second at 7-under par and a spot in the final pairing, to 5-under overall, tied for fifth place.
Amidst the departures and controversies, some players showed strong performances. Rory McIlroy, the Masters champion, was the only major champion this year to make it to the weekend. He continued his aggressive play, driving the ninth green for the second consecutive day, a hole not typically considered drivable. McIlroy noted that favorable wind conditions influenced his decision to attempt the drive, a strategy that has proven successful and aligns with a growing trend of aggressive play at Royal Birkdale.
Sam Burns, despite a previous best finish of tied for 31st at this event in 2024, achieved a record 62 and expressed his approach to the tournament as learning to “embrace the chaos.” Francesco Molinari, who won the Claret Jug in similar conditions in 2018, demonstrated strong play, sitting at 4-under and tied for sixth. Russell Henley also showcased a notable shot, laying up short on the par-3 14th and then carving a long iron into the green from 259 yards out.
Hometown Hopes and Weekend Outlook
With several English players, including Rose, Fitzpatrick, and Rai, missing the cut, the hopes of a hometown winner now rest heavily on Tommy Fleetwood. Fleetwood shot a 67, moving him to 4-under, keeping the dream of an English champion alive. No Englishman has won The Open since 1992, placing significant pressure on Fleetwood as he heads into the weekend.
Scottie Scheffler, despite being third in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green, was 126th in putting, which could be affecting his position near the lead. Late heroics were also seen from Min Woo Lee and Josele Ballester, who both birdied the 18th hole to make the cut. Lee acknowledged that while simply making cuts isn’t the ultimate goal, such moments are beneficial in the long run, and he expressed excitement for the upcoming rounds, hoping for good conditions to post a low score.
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Source: pgatour.com
