Full Breakdown
Cut Line Set at +1 for 2026 Open Championship; Several Major Winners Fail to Reach Weekend
7/18/2026, 2:39:10 AM
Core Event: Cut Determined After Second Round
On Friday, July 17, 2026, the second round of the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England concluded with the cut line established at +1. All competitors scoring +1 or better advanced to the weekend. Reports differ on the exact number of players who progressed: some outlets state that the top 70 players and ties made the cut, while others list 78 players as having advanced.
Background & Context: Cut Rules and Recent Trends
The Open Championship’s cut rule requires the top 70 players and ties after 36 holes to continue, mirroring the PGA Championship and differing from the U.S. Open (top 60) and the Masters (top 50). The former “10-shot rule” – allowing any player within ten strokes of the leader – is no longer in effect. Recent editions have seen the cut line at +1 in 2025 (Royal Portrush) and 2021 (Royal St. Georges), making the 2026 figure the third occurrence of a +1 cut in the past six years.
Notable Players Who Missed the Cut
A number of high-profile major champions failed to reach the weekend:
| Player | Score after 2 rounds | Notable notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Spieth (three-time major champion) | +10 | Recorded a three-putt double bogey on 17 and a quadruple bogey, finishing 77 in round 2. |
| Matt Fitzpatrick (2022 U.S. Open champion) | +4 | Opened with 72 and repeated the score on Friday, three strokes shy of the cut. |
| Wyndham Clark (2023 & 2026 U.S. Open champion) | +3 | Began the day at +3, then posted two double bogeys and three bogeys on the front nine. |
| Justin Rose (2013 U.S. Open champion) | +3 | Struggled to stay within the cut threshold. |
| Brian Harman (2023 Open champion) | +9 | Fell well short of the +1 line. |
| Aaron Rai | +2 | Also missed the cut. |
| Harris English | +2 | Missed the weekend. |
| Joaquin Niemann | +4 | Did not advance. |
| Jason Day | +4 | Failed to make the cut. |
| Gary Woodland | +9 | Eliminated after round 2. |
The cut line itself was +1, meaning the top 70 players and ties (or, per some reports, the top 78) continued to the final two rounds.
Data & Statistics: Cut Line and Field Overview
- Cut line: +1 (all scores +1 or better made the weekend).
- Top leaderboard after round 2: Lucas Herbert –8, Cameron Young –6, Jackson Suber –6, Ryan Gerard –6, Bryson DeChambeau –5, Sam Burns –5, Si Woo Kim –5, Scottie Scheffler –4, Tommy Fleetwood –4, Robert MacIntyre –4, Alex Fitzpatrick –4, Francesco Molinari –4, Matt Wallace –4, Bud Cauley –4, Thomas Detry –4.
- Number of players projected to make the cut: 92.7 % probability of a +1 cut, 6.7 % chance of even-par, 0.7 % chance of +2 (per Data Golf projections).
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Number of qualifiers: USA Today and CBS Sports cite the traditional “top 70 and ties” rule, while Bleacher Report lists 78 players as having advanced. No official clarification appears in the available sources.
- Cut line projection vs. outcome: Early projections varied, with some models estimating a higher cut number before the afternoon round; the final cut settled at +1, aligning with the most recent forecast (92.7 % probability).
- Absence of official statements: No tournament officials or player representatives provided direct comments in the sourced material, leaving a gap in formal reactions to the unexpected eliminations.
On-the-Ground Reports: Spieth’s Collapse
Jordan Spieth entered the second round with a 73 in round 1. He opened the day with two birdies but quickly unraveled, posting two bogeys, three double bogeys, and a three-putt double bogey on the 17th hole. His 77 for round 2 left him ten strokes over par, sealing his exit from the championship.
What’s Next: Weekend Conditions
Forecasts indicate that weather will improve for Saturday and Sunday, while the course is expected to remain firm and fast. Players who survived the cut will face tougher scoring conditions, potentially mirroring the low winning scores seen in previous Open Championships at Royal Birkdale.
