The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale claimed several high-profile casualties as the cut line was set at one-over par. Among those heading home early are Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth, Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, Joaquin Niemann, and Cameron Smith. Meanwhile, Lucas Herbert nearly made history with a second-round 62, taking the lead at eight-under par.
Lucas Herbert's Near-Record Round
Lucas Herbert, ranked 97th in the PGA World Rankings, stole the spotlight on Day 2 with a stunning card of 62, missing out on the lowest-ever scorecard in Open history (dating to 1850) after a missed routine putt on the 18th. He leads by two shots over Ryan Gerard, Jackson Suber, and Cameron Young, all on six-under. Robert McIntyre, Alex Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, and Matt Wallace are the only British representatives inside the top 10.
Matt Fitzpatrick's Shock Exit
Matt Fitzpatrick, who arrived with three wins in 2026 and a tie for third at the Genesis Scottish Open, finished with consecutive rounds of 72 for a four-over total. It marked his first missed cut at a major since the 2024 PGA Championship and his first at The Open since 2018. "You've just got to look at three or four holes for me. I've hit decent shots, gotten no luck and come away with four-over par. That's the way links golf is. You need to have that rub of the green sometimes, and I didn't have it this week," Fitzpatrick said.
Justin Rose Disappointed
Justin Rose, 45, finished on three-over and expressed his disappointment on social media: "That was special @TheOpen @royalbirkdale. Gutted I won’t be around for the weekend around that amazing golf course…. Thanks for all the support." Rose had recently battled Rory McIlroy in a Masters playoff.
Jordan Spieth's Nightmare Return
Jordan Spieth, the 2017 Open champion, endured a disastrous tournament, finishing on ten-over. His misery was compounded by a three-putt from just three feet. This ended his streak of finishing in the top 30 every year since 2016.
Wyndham Clark's Valiant Effort
Reigning U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark shot 73-70 to finish three-over. After double bogeys on the second and third holes, he climbed as high as seven-over before birdies on the 15th and 16th and an eagle on the 17th salvaged some pride.
Viktor Hovland's Tough Weekend
Viktor Hovland, ranked 12th in the world, went five-over on Day 2 to finish four-over. He needed eagles on his final two holes to make the cut but could only manage a birdie on the 17th.
Joaquin Niemann and Cameron Smith Struggle
Joaquin Niemann, 27, followed a tied-7th at the BMW Championships with a four-over total. Cameron Smith, 32, finished on two-over, continuing a disappointing run after missing the cut at the U.S. Open on six-over.
