The Open: 9 big names who missed the cut

The 152nd Open has reached the halfway stage and, unfortunately, for some the game’s biggest names, it’s the end of the road.

Three-time Open champ Tiger Woods headlined the biggest casualties, the former world No.1 carding rounds of 79 and 77 to miss his third successive major cut.

Joining him in an early jettison is Rory McIlroy. The Irishman, who had clocked up eight top-ten finishes in his previous 11 major starts, toiled throughout at Royal Troon and now faces the grim reality of his major drought entering a new decade. Ouch!

Here’s a full rundown of the big names who’ll play no more part in the final men’s major of the year.

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Tyrrell Hatton (+8)

After his respectable opening round 73, Hatton claimed that Royal Troon had been made so long that it was no longer enjoyable to play. In gusty afternoon conditions, the Englishman’s 77 on Friday can’t have been much fun either.

Tommy Fleetwood (+9)

Tipped by many as the best bet to end England (and Great Britain’s) long Open drought, Fleetwood’s anticipated challenge never materialised. Rounds of 76 and 75 added up to the world No.12 having a free weekend at The Open for the first time since 2016.

Bryson DeChambeau (+9)

A disastrous couple of days for the reigning US Open champion, who fell well short on the west coast. DeChambeau blamed his equipment for an opening round of 76 and, clearly, didn’t figure out his issues ahead of the second round. A dampener on what had been an excellent season in the major championships.

• Open hopeful suffers truly epic meltdown at Royal Troon

• Rory McIlroy’s ‘messy lifestyle’ to blame for major drought

Ludvig Aberg (+9)

Perhaps his miserable Scottish Open Sunday took its toll more than we imagined, but so many had expected Aberg to contend here on his Open debut. 75-76 was not exactly what the bookmakers had in mind when he was made third favourite at Royal Troon. So it wasn’t to be this week, but the Swede will have ample more chances to lift his Claret Jug.

Viktor Hovland (+10)

The Norwegian’s highlight remains getting a 99 ice cream during a practice round on Wednesday after a pair of dismal rounds. All in, a strange result for Hovland who was putting together a strong Open record, whilst this missed weekend represents his third in this year’s major championships.

Rory McIlroy (+11)

On the bright side, he has the opportunity for real redemption on home soil at Royal Portrush next year. But if we’re done clutching at straws, here’s the harsh reality: Rory was terrible this week pretty much from the off. And, once again, he has a long eight months ahead of him before he goes back to The Masters… and we all know the deal with that by now. His major drought now extends into a second decade, which is, quite frankly, horrendous.

• Best seat in the house! Inside the Open’s iconic yellow scoreboard

• Tiger Woods and the interminable lap of honour

Cameron Smith (+12)

The ‘Champion Golfer’ of 2022 was all but out after Thursday’s “brutal” opening round. Smith – who carded nine bogeys and a triple – was left licking his wounds from the worst day of his major championship career. The Aussie had been threatening to win on LIV Golf, leading to a performance at Royal Troon he didn’t think ‘was possible’. It’s the first time he’s missed the cut at the Open since 2017.

Tiger Woods (+14)

Started the week trying to ram Colin Montgomerie’s words down his throat but, by the end, had almost completely vindicated the Scot’s sentiment. Granted, the cool, damp conditions could hardly have suited him less but that’s also illustrative of where we’re at with Tiger now. Unless it’s warm, flat calm, not hilly, the walks between tees and greens aren’t too long, and he has enough time to fully recover between rounds, he hasn’t got a prayer of contending. And even if, by some cosmic fluke, all of those stars align, there are still no guarantees. Only once in the last 11 years has he had a weekend tee time at The Open. That kind of says it all.

Wyndham Clark (+16)

It’s the third missed cut of the major season for the world No.5, following his heroics in last year’s US Open. He closed with a 62 at the Renaissance Club only six days ago, but a catalogue of dropped shots means Clark will miss a seventh weekend from his 12 major appearances.