The 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale established a cut line of one over par after 36 holes. This result eliminated high-profile players like Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland, while Rory McIlroy advanced to the final rounds.
The One Over Par Threshold and the Top 70 Rule
The cut at the 2026 Open Championship was set at one over par, meaning any golfer finishing at two over or worse was eliminated from the competition. According to the source, this threshold reduced the field to the low 70 players and ties, creating a dense leaderboard for the final 36 holes at Royal Birkdale.
This specific cut structure highlights a divergence in professional golf standards. As the report says, the Open Championship advances the top 70 players and ties, a more lenient approach than the United States Open, which typically advances the top 60, or standard PGA Tour events, which generally cut at the top 65 and ties.
Jordan Spieth's 2017 Victory and the Royal Birkdale Ghost
The early exit of Jordan Spieth is particularly jarring given his history at Royal Birkdale. Spieth won the 2017 Open Championship at this venue, a victory that stands as the most recent major title of his career. Until this event, Jordan Spieth had successfully made the cut in every Open Championship he had ever entered.
Other veterans also struggled to navigate the course. While Rory McIlroy managed to advance—recalling his tie for fourth place at Royal Birkdale in 2017—other established names like Justin Rose and Brian Harman were unable to survive the 36-hole test. The failure of these experienced contenders underscores the narrow margin for error inherent in the Royal Birkdale layout.
Scottie Scheffler’s 79-Event Streak and the Schauffele Standard
The performance of world number one Scottie Scheffler at Royal Birkdale was under intense scrutiny due to a recent dip in consistency. Scottie Scheffler arrived at the 2026 Open Championship having recently ended a historic streak of making the cut in 79 consecutive events, a run that had begun in 2022.
In contrast, Xander Schauffele has emerged as the gold standard for major championship reliability. the report notes that Xander Schauffele has made the cut in every Open Championship he has played and has reached the weekend of every major since the 2022 Masters. this consistency stands in stark opposition to Viktor Hovland, who, despite winning the Travelers Championship and finishing 13th at the Genesis Scottish Open, continues to struggle with inconsistency in major championships.
Bryson DeChambeau’s 2026 Major Season Slump
Bryson DeChambeau entered the 2026 Open Championship facing a difficult trend in major golf. While Bryson DeChambeau produced several top-10 finishes in 2025, his 2026 season has been marked by failure, including missed cuts in all three majors preceding the event at Royal Birkdale.
This struggle is an echo of DeChambeau's first appearance at Royal Birkdale in 2017, where he also failed to make the weekend. Despite his high-profile success in LIV Golf events, the 2026 major season has raised questions about his ability to maintain a high floor during the game's most prestigious tournaments.
The Unresolved Question of LIV Success on Links Turf
One of the most significant gaps in the current analysis is whether the aggressive style of LIV Golf translates effectively to the unique demands of links golf. While the source mentions that Bryson DeChambeau's LIV success provides a positive counterpoint to his major struggles, it remains unverified how much that specific circuit's preparation helps or hinders a player at a venue like Royal Birkdale.
Furthermore , the report focuses heavily on those who missed the cut, leaving the specific tactical adjustments made by the current leader, Lucas Herbert, largely unexplored. It remains to be seen if Herbert's lead is a result of a specfiic strategy for Royal Birkdale or simply a lapse in the field's overall discipline during the second round.
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