Two rounds are in the books at the Genesis Scottish Open, and the cut has sent half the field packing. While many excelled at the Renaissance Club, several prominent players found themselves heading home early.
Leading the Pack
Ludvig Åberg leads the field, heading into Moving Day with a one-shot advantage over Antoine Rozner. Sungjae Im and Matteo Manassero are tied at 10-under, closely followed by six golfers at 9-under. The cut line was set at 3-under, and anyone scoring higher had to bid farewell to the tournament.
Surprising Misses
Here’s a look at some of the most popular names who missed the cut:
– **Luke Donald** (68-70; -2)
– **Hideki Matsuyama** (71-67; -2)
– **Jordan Spieth** (71-68; -1)
– **Rickie Fowler** (73-71; +4)
– **Justin Rose** (69-72; +1)
– **Padraig Harrington** (70-71; +1)
– **Will Zalatoris** (71-71; +2)
– **Denny McCarthy** (73-74; +7)
– **Keith Mitchell** (69-70; -1)
While some of these players did not perform terribly, the competitive 3-under cutline proved too steep for them.
Notable Struggles
Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler missing the cut is particularly surprising. Spieth, despite a solid performance last week, couldn’t find his rhythm in Scotland. Fowler struggled significantly, ending with a +4.
Keith Mitchell narrowly missed the cut, and Denny McCarthy, despite a strong showing at the John Deere, couldn’t maintain that momentum and finished with a +7. Justin Rose and Hideki Matsuyama, both usually strong performers at this event, also fell short.
Will Zalatoris, possibly still hindered by a lingering back issue, couldn’t manage to make the cut either.
Looking Ahead
With players at 10-under or better, the competition was fierce, and those who couldn’t keep pace had to head home. These early exits may give some players a head start in preparing for the upcoming Open Championship, also taking place in Scotland.
Which player’s early departure surprised you the most?