Scottie Scheffler’s Open Championship Chances: Did That Missed Cut Even Matter?

So, Scottie Scheffler. World Number 1. Longest made-cut streak in PGA Tour history. Gone. Poof. Missed the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open. And now? The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale is just around the corner. What the hell does that even mean for his chances at a Claret Jug? Are we all supposed to freak out? Or is this just… golf? Let’s dive in.

The Scheffler Shockwave: Selling or Buying Open Stock?

Look, nobody saw that coming. Scheffler, who’s been a machine, just… didn’t make the cut. It’s weird. It breaks the streak. It’s the kind of thing that makes you scratch your head and wonder if something’s up. But here’s the thing: is this a sign of trouble, or just a blip on the radar? Some folks think his iron play has been a little off this season, not otherworldly like it usually is. He’s still the best player out there, no doubt. But when you go from hitting it like a god to just… really, really good, other guys can sneak by when they’re playing their best. He didn’t look great in Scotland, sure. But will he be in the mix at Birkdale? Most of us think so. It’s hard to imagine him playing two tournaments in a row without being a serious contender. So, yeah, if you’re looking to bet on the Open, holding onto Scheffler stock seems like a solid bet. Don’t sell him short just yet.

Honestly, this missed cut might just be the equivalent of a golfer getting a bogey and using it as fuel. It’s a wake-up call. A little jolt to the system. Scheffler’s game on his ‘B’ game is still good enough to beat most of the field. And let’s be real, the golf world lost its mind about his putting a year ago after a rough Scottish Open. How did he respond? Went out and won at Portrush the next week. A couple of extra days to get to Royal Birkdale early? That should sort him out. He’ll be ready. He has to be.

The Hottest Open Championship Storylines: Beyond the Obvious

Okay, Scheffler’s wobble is a story. But what else is brewing for The Open? Forget the obvious for a second. It’s not just about Tommy Fleetwood or Jordan Spieth. We need to talk about Rory McIlroy.

Rory. Thirty-seven years old. He’s been playing smarter, not harder. Picking his spots, focusing on the majors. He’s got one Claret Jug, but honestly, he should have two. Remember that whole Cam Smith thing? Yeah. He’s been one of the best Open players for two decades. It would be damn weird if he doesn’t snag another one. He’s only played a handful of times since the Masters, which he says has him feeling fresh. He played well in Scotland, except for that one round. With Scottie looking a little shaky, this feels like a massive opportunity for Rory to add another major to his collection. He doesn’t have an infinite number of chances left.

And then there’s the defending champ, Scottie himself. He’s coming in off a rare missed cut, and he’s trying to hold onto a title while still trying to figure out what’s missing in his game. That’s a story right there. But the real story? It’s the kid from Southport playing The Open in Southport. How can it not be Tommy Fleetwood? He’s in great form. He’s been looking forward to this week for years. You hear the people who know him best, they all say the same thing. This is his chance. This is what he’s been building towards.

Tommy Fleetwood: Hometown Hero or Major Window Closing?

Tommy Fleetwood. The hometown kid. Still chasing that first major. He’s played better over the last year, even climbed up the world rankings. But here’s the kicker: no major top 10 in the last two years. At 35, is his peak major window slamming shut? Or is it just starting to creak open?

Some think it’s wide open. He’s still a world-class ball striker. Expect him to win one, maybe two. But we’ve seen it before. Rickie Fowler, anyone? Sometimes those near-misses just become… misses. The window slams shut. We need to see some serious fire from Tommy at Birkdale to prove that window is still as wide as some of us believe.

Others say it’s still open, but with every chance that slips away, it looks a little tighter. The hometown hero angle? That’s a lot of pressure. For a guy like Fleetwood, who seems more comfortable in team events, that spotlight might be a bit much. Trying to win a stroke-play major on home soil? That’s a different beast entirely.

And then there’s the age thing. That prime window for golfers? It really starts to shut down around 37 or 38. Fleetwood’s got a couple more years of peak performance, you’d think. He’s been playing at this elite level for three years straight. So, the door isn’t exactly creaking shut just yet. We’ll see. We’ll definitely see.

The Best Player Without a Major: Who’s Next in Line?

So, who holds the title of Best Player Without a Major right now? It’s a tough call. You want to say Viktor Hovland, but the clear answer for many is Cameron Young. This guy won The Players. He was leading the Masters on Sunday. He’s currently ranked 3rd in the world. He’s clearly leveled up this year. Don’t be surprised if he walks away from Birkdale with the Claret Jug and takes his name off this list.

Yeah, Young is a solid pick. The reigning Player’s Champion, and he’s come so damn close in majors already. It’s hard to argue against him.

But then there’s Fleetwood. (Sorry for talking about him so much, but it’s relevant!) Young has only been at this elite level for a short time. That “best without a major” label often goes to someone who’s been grinding at the top for a bit longer. But if we’re talking pure talent among those without a major, Ludvig Aberg is a name that keeps popping up. Keep an eye on him.

Feeling the Heat: Who’s Under the Most Pressure at The Open?

It’s the last men’s major of the season. The pressure is on. Who’s feeling it the most?

My answer is always Jon Rahm. Ever since he jumped ship to LIV, our chances to see him battle it out with Scottie and Rory have been limited. He’s contended in a couple of PGAs since the move, but that’s about it. With LIV’s future uncertain and Rahm’s own path a bit murky, he needs to bring his A-game this week. A third major would be huge.

And yeah, I’ll add Scheffler back into the mix. He never seems fazed, he’s too grounded for that. But he’s coming off a rare missed cut, he’s the defending champ, and it’s the final major of a season that, by his standards, has been a bit disappointing. This one has to feel a little bigger than usual for him.

Am I crazy for bringing up Fleetwood again? He’s going to feel things on Birkdale’s first tee that no one else will this year. Maybe not even next year. Until Shane Lowry tees off in the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor, we won’t have a hometown, home legend story building quite like this for Fleetwood. That’s immense pressure. He’ll either thrive or crumble.

The More Surprising Missed Cut: Scheffler or Korda?

So, who’s the bigger shocker? Scheffler missing the cut at the Genesis, or Nelly Korda? Up until her missed cut at the Evian Championship, she hadn’t finished worse than T8 in nine individual stroke-play events. Four wins, three runner-ups. Dominant. On the other hand, Scheffler’s streak was insane. Four years without missing a weekend.

For me, it’s Nelly. She’s had a bit of a shaky history at the Evian, sure, but the way she’s been playing this season? A missed cut just wasn’t in the cards. Scottie, as we’ve discussed, has been a tick below his absolute best, and when you throw in links golf and some wind, you can get a bad result when you’re not firing on all cylinders.

But then again, Scheffler. Nearly four years since he missed the weekend. That’s staggering. It’s hard to get your head around.

Honestly, looking at Scheffler’s face that Friday afternoon, the confusion was clear. It was Scheffler’s missed cut that was the most surprising. People forget he was on an even more impressive streak: 37 straight top-25 finishes. As Jon Rahm himself said, it’s not the cuts made that are astonishing. It’s that every single time he played, he seemed to have a chance to win. That’s the real story. And that’s why he’s still the guy to beat at The Open.

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