World number one Scottie Scheffler will get an early look at Royal Birkdale after his remarkable streak of 78 consecutive made cuts ended at the Scottish Open.
His exit from The Renaissance Club marks his first missed cut in four years, a setback days before his Claret Jug defence. Scheffler needed to hole a chip from off the front of the par-three ninth green, his final hole, to meet the predicted one-under-par cut line.
His effort missed, and he then failed to convert a six-foot putt for par. This left him at level par for the tournament, following a two-over round of 72, confirming his early departure.
While the early departure grants the 30-year-old time to scout Royal Birkdale, a course new to him, it is far from ideal preparation for his Claret Jug defence.
He stated: “A little different to what I was planning. I’ll figure how to get down to Birkdale and kind of go from there. This week I really wanted to play well and this is a golf course I feel like I can play well on – I just haven’t for some reason.
“It could be one of those things where you just get over jet-lag, get used to a new style of golf, and maybe I just haven’t adjusted as quick or this golf course just doesn’t suit my eye much.”
His round included back-to-back bogeys at the 11th and 12th, and a dropped shot at the 17th, offsetting a birdie at the 15th, sealing his fate with a closing bogey.
Scheffler’s exit somewhat overshadowed impressive performances elsewhere. Jordan Smith delivered a brilliant 63, featuring four successive birdies from the 11th. He turned in a five-under 30 with another at the 17th.
Three further birdies against a solitary bogey at the sixth propelled him to nine under par, one shot ahead of fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick.
“I had three weeks off, put the clubs away for a week and then came back re-energised and looking forward to this next stretch,” Smith told BBC Scotland. “Things are feeling good. I’m in a good mental space and just need to keep it going.”
Fitzpatrick produced a superb 65, almost acing the par-three 15th – contributing to five successive birdies as he went out in 31.
He said: “This stretch of sort of February, March, onwards to now it’s definitely the best golf I’ve played in my career.” His strong run since last year’s event has seen him climb to world number four.
Fellow Sheffield golfer, former Masters champion Danny Willett, moved into a share of fourth on six under after a second successive 67.
Spain’s Jon Rahm also made a significant recovery, shooting a second-round 65 to reach two under and make the cut, having been five over after 11 holes on Thursday.
