Scottie Scheffler’s Streak BROKEN: Misses Cut at Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler Misses the Cut at Scottish Open, Gets Early Start for Open Championship Defense
By Mark Schlabach — Senior college football writer, author of seven books on college football, graduate of the University of Georgia. Published Jul 10, 2026, 09:31 AM ET.
Who Is Scottie Scheffler?
Imagine the best player in the world at a sport — that’s Scottie Scheffler for golf right now.
- He is the world No. 1 golfer (the top-ranked player globally).
- He plays on the PGA Tour, which is a series of professional golf tournaments.
- He has won 20 times on that tour.
- He is 30 years old.
- He won his fourth major championship (one of the four biggest yearly golf events) at the 2025 Open Championship in Northern Ireland.
- He is from the United States and is the defending champion of the Open Championship.
What Happened at the Genesis Scottish Open?
Scheffler played in the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland. Let’s walk through his two days like a simple story:
- First round (Thursday): He shot a 2‑under 68. (“Under par” means he used 2 fewer hits, called strokes, than the course’s expected number — that’s good!)
- Second round (Friday): He shot a 72 (exactly the expected number, called “even par”).
- Total after two rounds: Even par (0 under).
- The cut line: Tournaments usually keep only the best half of players after two rounds. This time, the cut was set at 2 under par. Because Scheffler was at even par, he missed the cut — meaning he was sent home and did not play on the weekend.
Important Point: Missing this cut ends his streak of 78 consecutive events where he played on the weekend. That amazing run lasted nearly four years!
Understanding the “Cut” and the Amazing Streak
In golf, after the first two rounds, the tournament “cuts” (sends home) players with the worst scores. Only the top scores continue.
- Scheffler’s made‑cut streak started at the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship (August 2022).
- Before this week, he had made 78 cuts in a row.
- His streak was 51 starts longer than the next closest golfer, Matt Fitzpatrick (another professional player).
- This was also the first time Scheffler finished outside the top 25 in a PGA Tour event since he tied for 33rd in the 2024 BMW Championship.
From the original photo caption: Scottie Scheffler had made 78 consecutive cuts dating back to the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Why Did He Struggle?
Scheffler talked to reporters on Friday. In simple words:
- He said: “I got off to a tough start, and then on the back nine I didn’t feel like I was hitting it close enough to give myself enough opportunities. I think that’s what it really comes down to. I got off to a poor start and didn’t really hit it close enough to give myself a bunch of looks, and that’s how you shoot over par.”
- The numbers show his trouble:
- He hit only 11 of 26 fairways (the neat short grass you aim for off the first shot).
- He hit only 23 of 36 greens (the smooth area around the hole where you want the ball to land).
- He lost nearly two strokes on his approach shots (the shots aimed at the green).
What’s Next: The Open Championship
- Scheffler is the defending champ of The Open Championship (a major golf tournament in the UK, also called the British Open).
- Next week, the Open goes to Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.
- He has never played at Royal Birkdale before.
- Because he missed the cut, he now gets extra practice days there earlier than planned.
- He will again be the favorite to win.
- Fun fact: No one has won The Open in back‑to‑back years since Padraig Harrington did it in 2008‑09.
Scheffler’s Season So Far
Even with this early exit, his year has been super steady:
- He hasn’t won on tour since his first start of the season at the American Express.
- But he has:
- 9 top‑10 finishes (finished among the first ten players)
- 4 runner‑up finishes (came in second place)
- Last month at the U.S. Open, he played in the final group on Sunday (the last group to tee off) and tied for 4th.
- Two weeks ago, he lost to Viktor Hovland in a Monday playoff (extra holes to break a tie) at the Travelers Championship.
Scheffler reflected on the early exit:
“It’s a little different now with some of the signature events not having cuts. But, you know, I don’t think I finished outside of the top 20 or something like that many times this year. I’m definitely proud of the consistency and wish I had a couple days over the weekend to make up some ground. But overall, get down to Birkdale a little earlier than expected and get used to a new course.”
Important Point: “Signature events” are special big golf tournaments that sometimes let everyone play all rounds (no cut).
Summary
Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 golfer, surprisingly missed the cut at the Scottish Open with an even‑par total, ending a remarkable 78‑event streak of weekend play. He struggled with hitting fairways and greens but remains proud of his consistent season. The early exit gives him bonus time to practice at Royal Birkdale, a course he’s never seen, before defending his Open Championship title next week. Despite the hiccup, he’s still the favorite and aims to become the first back‑to‑back Open winner since 2009.
FAQ
Q1: What does “missing the cut” mean in golf?
A: After two rounds, only the players with the best scores continue. If your score is worse than the “cut line,” you go home early and don’t play the weekend. That’s missing the cut.
Q2: Who is Matt Fitzpatrick and why is his streak mentioned?
A: Matt Fitzpatrick is another professional golfer. He had the second‑longest active streak of making cuts, but Scheffler’s streak was 51 tournaments longer than his.
Q3: What is the Open Championship?
A: It’s one of golf’s four major championships, played on special seaside courses in the UK. Scheffler won it in 2025.
Q4: Why is playing at Royal Birkdale a big deal?
A: Royal Birkdale is the venue for next week’s Open. Scheffler has never played there, so the extra practice days from missing the Scottish Open cut could help him learn the course.
Q5: What is a playoff in golf?
A: If players tie after the final round, they play extra holes (or a day) to decide the winner. Scheffler lost a Monday playoff to Viktor Hovland two weeks ago.
