Tom Kim Wins Scottish Open With 64, Ending 1,001-Day Drought

Q: Is Scottie Scheffler’s first missed cut in four years a red flag or a strategic reset before his Open title defense?

It looks more like a strategic reset than a serious red flag, though Scheffler’s iron play is a real short-term concern. The warning sign is clear: Scheffler’s missed cut at the Genesis Scottish Open ended a 78-event PGA Tour cut streak, his first weekend off since the 2022 FedEx St. Jude. He finished two shots outside the cut line at even par and admitted he did not hit enough approach shots close to create birdie chances. That matters because approach play is normally the foundation of his dominance, and analysts have pointed to a slight dip in that area. But the broader evidence argues against overreaction. Scheffler’s 2026 season remains elite, with a win at The American Express, four runner-up finishes and two thirds. Before Scotland, his worst finish in 14 starts was tied for 24th. One missed cut, especially on a links setup that has not suited him, does not outweigh that body of work. The timing may even help him. Scheffler has never played Royal Birkdale, so the early exit gives him extra days to learn the course before defending his Open title. He said as much after the round, noting he can now get to Birkdale earlier than planned. He also has recent precedent: he struggled at the Scottish Open last year and still played well at The Open. So the missed cut is best read as a minor form check, not a major alarm. If his iron play sharpens quickly, the extra preparation time could prove more valuable than two more rounds in Scotland.

3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 12

A bogey-free 64 lifted Tom Kim to the Scottish Open title at the Renaissance Club, giving the 24-year-old South Korean his first Rolex Series win and fourth PGA Tour title.
Six birdies powered Kim from off the pace to 17-under, and Min Woo Lee’s missed birdie putt on 17 left Kim needing only a par at the last to seal a two-shot victory.
Min Woo Lee finished alone in second, while Matt Fitzpatrick, Robert MacIntyre, Johnny Keefer and Keita Nakajima shared third after Fitzpatrick and MacIntyre failed to convert their overnight lead with 69s.
The victory guarantees Kim a place in the 2027 Masters and arrives a week before the Open Championship, where Rory McIlroy heads to Royal Birkdale after a season-best-matching 64 for tied seventh.