12 Big Names To Miss The 2026 Open Cut

The first two rounds of The Open featured some incredible highs and crushing lows for some in the field.

At the top of the leaderboard, both Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns got to grips with the dry, firm and fast course to equal the lowest round in a men's Major.

While they are safely into the third round, along with the likes of first-round leader Jackson Suber, 2014 winner Rory McIlroy, LIV Golf star Bryson DeChambeau and defending champion Scottie Scheffler, for others, Royal Birkdale proved a more frustrating test.

While the top 70 and ties all have a tee time for Moving Day, some notable names are among those heading away from Southport with their tails between their legs.

Here are some of the big names to miss the cut at The Open.

Aaron Rai: +2 (71-71)

Aaron Rai’s bid to become a two-time Major champion fell just short at Royal Birkdale.

The Englishman, who held off Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley to win May’s PGA Championship, seemed on track to make it to the weekend.

That was until he slipped up at the 18^th on Friday with a bogey that made all the difference as he missed the cut by one to finish on two over for the tournament.

Cameron Smith: +2 (73-69)

The LIV Golfer faced an anxious wait to see if he’d done enough to make the cut after rounds of 73 and 69.

However, despite finishing one under on Friday, it wasn’t quite enough to scramble above the cut line.

The 2022 Champion Golfer of the Year missed out on the weekend by just one shot.

That means the only time he has made it past 36 holes in his last nine Major appearances was at the PGA Championship, where he placed T7.

Wyndham Clark: +3 (73-70)

Clark has been back to his very best in recent months, and after claiming his second US Open title in June, few would have bet against him doing well this week.

Another thing working in Clark's favor was a T4 achieved a year ago at Royal Portrush.

Could he build on that 12 months on? He had work to do after a three-over first round of 73.

His second round was erratic, to say the least, with three bogeys, two double bogeys, five birdies and an eagle, the upshot being an even-par 70, which wasn't enough to progress to the weekend.

Tom Kim: +3 (70-73)

After a prolonged struggle, in recent weeks, Tom Kim has reminded everyone of the talent that brought him three early PGA Tour wins. That culminated in victory at last week's Genesis Scottish Open.

With one week of brilliant links golf under his belt, he seemed like one to watch heading to The Open.

There was little untoward about his even-par first round of 70, but, needing a similar level of consistency on Friday, he couldn't quite find it, making six bogeys and three birdies to miss the cut.

Matt Fitzpatrick: +4 (72-72)

When the 2026 Player of the Year nominations are decided, it would be a surprise if Matt Fitzpatrick's name is not among them.

The Englishman has three PGA Tour wins this season, a record that had him earmarked as a potential winner at Royal Birkdale, particularly after a T4 a year ago.

Unfortunately for Fitzpatrick, he could only manage two rounds of 72, with a critical moment on Friday coming with a double-bogey at the 12th, leaving him a mountain to climb that he couldn't surmount.

Joaquin Niemann: +4 (76-68)

The talented Chilean would have headed to Royal Birkdale full of confidence after a recent victory at LIV Golf Korea followed by his best finish in a Major when he tied for seventh at last month's US Open.

However, things soon started going wrong for him, with a double-bogey on just the second hole of the first round on his way to a six-over 76.

He improved on Friday with three birdies and just one bogey, but it wasn't enough and he misses his second consecutive Open cut.

Justin Rose: +3 (75-68)

If Justin Rose ever wins an Open, it would surely make him one of the most popular champions in living memory. It was a big week for him returning to Birkdale, where he finished fourth back in 1998, but it won't be one to remember.

The Englishman has come close to the Claret Jug several times through the years, most recently with a tie for second two years ago. He'll need to wait another year for his next chance, though, after a poor start left him five-over after the first round.

That meant he needed to go low on Friday to have a chance, and despite an impressive 68, he couldn't do enough to reach the weekend.

Viktor Hovland: +4 (70-74)

The Norwegian has found some brilliant form in recent weeks, with third at the RBC Canadian Open and his eighth PGA Tour win at the Travelers Championship.

He demonstrated his links golf credentials with a tie for 13th at the Genesis Scottish Open, but he couldn't take that into Royal Birkdale.

Hovland began well enough with a round of 70 on Thursday, but he struggled for consistency on Friday, not least on the front nine, leaving him five over for the day by the turn. It proved too much to overturn and he heads home early for the third consecutive Major.

Jason Day: +4 (73-71)

The Australian claimed his best Open finish three years ago, sharing the runner-up position with three others at Royal Liverpool, but he's still waiting for his second Major title to add to the 2015 PGA Championship.

We now know that won't be coming in 2026. The former World No.1 finished the last Major of the year after a three-over 73 in the first round and failing to do enough on Friday.

Brian Harman: +9 (74-75)

Three years ago, Brian Harman produced a putting masterclass at Royal Liverpool to secure his maiden Major title in style.

Back then, players had to contend with cold, rainy conditions - the polar opposite to the heat, sun-backed fairways and fast greens of Royal Birkdale.

While Harman got to grips with the weather better than anyone in 2023 - this year - he didn't get close, finding himself four-over after the first round and unable to claw his way back into things on Friday. It ends his run of ten consecutive Major cuts.

Gary Woodland: +9 (78-71)

Few things have been more heartwarming in 2026 than the return to form of the ever-popular 2019 US Open champion.

As well as completing an inspirational comeback win at the Texas Children's Houston Open, Woodland has also shown encouraging form in the Majors, including T7 at the US Open.

That deserted him at Royal Birkdale with a nightmare first round featuring four double-bogeys to leave him eight over.

Perhaps nothing summed up his week more than a moment in his second round, when he hit his tee shot at 11 just 29 yards into the native area, finishing with a triple-bogey.

Jordan Spieth: +10 (73-77)

Nine years ago, Jordan Spieth tamed Royal Birkdale to claim his third Major title when he beat Matt Kuchar by three.

It's been over four years since his last win, but given his history at the course, he would have been optimistic of a strong performance this week.

It wasn't to be. Spieth was three over after the first round, with a costly double-bogey at the par-4 sixth partly responsible.

Another double came at the seventh in his second round as he failed to build the momentum needed to clamber above the cut line and into the weekend. He then proceeded to card a nine on the 17th and drop another shot on the last to post a score of 10-over-par. Not the Birkdale return he was hoping for.

Other notables to miss the cut at the 2026 Open:

• +2 Billy Horschel
• +2 JT Poston
• +2 Henrik Stenson
• +2 Jake Knapp
• +2 Tom McKibbin
• +2 Sam Stevens
• +2 Harris English
• +3 Keith Mitchell
• +3 Maverick McNealy
• +4 Harry Hall
• +4 Joe Dean
• +4 Akshay Bhatia
• +5 Max Greyserman
• +5 Haotong Li
• +5 Michael Kim
• +6 Daniel Berger
• +6 Rasmus Hojgaard
• +9 Padraig Harrington
• +11 David Puig