Scottie Scheffler Misses Scottish Open Cut, Ending 78-Event Streak

Q: Is Scottie Scheffler's shocking missed cut a secret weapon for his Open title defense on an unfamiliar course?

Possibly—but only in a narrow, practical sense. Scheffler’s missed cut at the Scottish Open is a setback, not an obvious advantage. It ended a 78-event weekend streak and exposed real issues in his ball-striking: he hit just 11 of 26 fairways, 23 of 36 greens, and lost nearly two strokes on approach. On its face, that is poor form heading into a major, especially on links terrain where trajectory control and precision matter. The potential upside is time. Because he is out early, Scheffler can get to Royal Birkdale sooner and prepare for a course he has never played. That matters more than usual because Birkdale has been altered since its last Open, with significant changes to holes including the 5th, 14th, 15th and 18th. Extra days to learn new sightlines, wind patterns and firm-running links conditions could be valuable. There is also some evidence that the Scottish Open is not a perfect predictor for Scheffler. The Renaissance Club is a modern seaside test that rewards elite driving and aerial control, but Birkdale is a more traditional, “no-nonsense” links examination. Scheffler himself suggested the issue in Scotland was not creating enough close birdie chances, rather than a broader collapse. Still, calling the missed cut a “secret weapon” overstates it. The real weapon remains Scheffler’s consistency, major pedigree and ability to adapt quickly. The early exit may help his preparation, but only if he turns that extra time into sharper links execution at Birkdale.

3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 10

Even-par 142 left Scottie Scheffler tied for 88th at the Scottish Open, ending his run of 78 straight made cuts and marking his first missed cut since the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship.
A 2-over 72 on Friday did the damage: Scheffler made four bogeys and missed a 6-foot par putt on 18, finishing well outside the projected 2-under cut line for the top 65 and ties.
Scheffler said he "wasn't hitting it close enough" to create birdie chances, an uncharacteristic lapse for the world No. 1 after losing rhythm through the second round.
The result halts one of the PGA Tour's longest active weekend streaks for the 20-time tour winner just ahead of the season's next major stretch.