The 2025 Open Championship began on Thursday at Royal Portrush, with the cut line set at 1-over par. Notable players including Collin Morikawa and Jason Day failed to make the weekend field, marking a significant development in the tournament.
The final major of the year started with 156 competitors vying for the title. Defending champion Xander Schauffele successfully made the cut and stands tied for 17th place on the provisional leaderboard. Meanwhile, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler holds a solo lead as the event progresses into moving day.
Noteworthy Players Who Did Not Advance at Royal Portrush
Collin Morikawa, who previously triumphed at the Open Championship in 2021 at Royal St George’s Golf Club, came into this tournament with high expectations after his remarkable major wins. However, his performance over the first two rounds was insufficient to continue. Morikawa began with a 4-over 75 on day one, followed by a day two round featuring four bogeys, one double bogey, and three birdies, totaling 7-over 149 after 36 holes and missing the cut line.
Jason Day, a 13-time PGA Tour winner and runner-up at the 2023 Open Championship, narrowly missed qualifying for the weekend by one stroke. This marks Day’s third missed cut this season. Over his 14th PGA Tour start of the year at Royal Portrush, he scored a 2-over 144 with a second-round effort that included three birdies, one bogey, and one double bogey.
Michael Kim, who secured his first PGA Tour victory at the 2018 John Deere Classic, has not added to his title count since. His best Open Championship finish is a tie for 35th, achieved in 2018. At Royal Portrush in 2025, Kim shot rounds of 74 and 72, finishing at 4-over 146, falling short by three strokes.
Sahith Theegala, after an average season with two missed cuts and two top-25 finishes, also missed the cut at the Open, recording a 7-over 149, six strokes off the required mark. Theegala achieved his first PGA Tour win at the 2023 Fortinet Championship and is still pursuing his maiden major title, with his best Open performance being a tie for 34th in 2022.
Min Woo Lee, who enjoyed a breakthrough victory at the 2025 Texas Children’s Houston Open, where he edged out Scottie Scheffler and Gary Woodland by one stroke, also did not advance at Royal Portrush. After carding a total score of 5-over 147, with one birdie, one bogey, and one double bogey on his second day, Lee missed the cut by four strokes.
Implications of the Cut for the Open Championship
The absence of notable players like Collin Morikawa and Jason Day from the weekend rounds reshapes the competitive dynamics at Royal Portrush. With a strong leaderboard including defending champion Xander Schauffele and leading World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the tournament now highlights emerging contenders and those maintaining consistent form.
The missed cut marks a setback for players who have previously demonstrated strong performances in major events, underlining the unpredictable pressures of the Open Championship. Fans and analysts will watch closely as the tournament advances, anticipating how the remaining golfers will capitalize on the evolving situation.