Scottie Scheffler has a few extra days to prepare for The Open at Birkdale after the world No 1 failed to make the cut in the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Cub near North Berwick.
It’s the first time in four years that the American has failed to play the final two days of an event and the American has not finished outside the top 25 in any tournament since 2024.
The four-time Major winner spoke in the build-up about his hopes of winning on Scottish soil, but a two-over-par 72 in the second round did the damage, bogeys at 11 and 12 in his opening three holes – he started at the tenth – did not help. He shot 68 in the opening round.
He told BBC Scotland Sport that “nothing was going right” during his two rounds on the East Lothian links so he heads for Birkdale and the defence of the Caret Jug with much to ponder.
The golfer said he will reassess his plans at the end of this year and he may not return to East Lothian.
Other casualties included five-time Major winner, Brooks Koepka, who finish on level par after two rounds, Patrick Cantlay, one of five first-round leaders after posting a 65, Bernd Wiesberger, third in the BMW International the previous week and a man who shot 65 to co-lead the event, three-time Major winner, Padriag Harrington, American golfer Xander Schauffele, Irish star, Shane Lowry.
Three Scots made the cut, Glaswegian, Scott Jamieson, carded a pair of 69s for minus two and he goes out at 9.58 with Mac Meissner from the Oak Hills Club in America.
Calum Hill, Kirkcaldy-born and Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh, educated, is on minus four and he tees-off at 12.53 with American, Justin Thomas.
And Robert MacIntyre from Oban, is in the fourth last pair at 15.02. He sits on seven-under after rounds of 67 and 66 and his playing partner is Dutchman, Joost Luiten. They go at 15.02.
The final two pairings are Matt Fitzpatrick of the Bears Sports Club in England, who is on eight-under and shot 65 in Round 2, including a run of five straight birdies, with Rory McIlroy, a former winner of this event, and the world No 2, who is one shot better off on minus nine after rounds of 65 and 66.
Tom Kim of Korea and Jordan Smith make up the final pair. Kim shot 65 and 66 in his first two rounds with Englishman, Jordan Smith, on the same mark of nine-under, after firing a sensational 63 yesterday. It was the lowest score on the day and the Borwood player’s first round score was 68.
The forecast was for it to be a cloudy today with a high of 17c. There was a 20 per cent chance of rain and the wind will be around 16kmh, however, things changed.
A heavy fog blanketed the 7,000-plus yard course and play was suspended at 10.45am with 17 players on the course, but they were expected back at 13.10 following an inspection.
MISSED CUT: Scottie Scheffler off to Birkdale to pan his Open defence after missing the cut at Genesis Scottish Open. Picture Nigel Duncan
