The 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale has seen a stacked leaderboard heading into the weekend, with Lucas Herbert surprising everyone at the top. However, while many of the game’s top stars have risen to the top, not everyone was so fortunate to make it to the weekend. The cut line ended up at 1 over, and two names in particular stand out on the list of those who missed the cut: Matt Fitzpatrick and Wyndham Clark.

Matt Fitzpatrick, who came into this week as one of the four leading favorites at sportsbooks, was in contention last week at the Scottish Open. He has long been considered a player who could thrive on the links and in the best form of his career. However, Fitzpatrick never got it out of first gear in Southport, England, stumbling to a 72 in the first round and backing it up with another 72 on Friday to finish at 4 over, three shots off the cut line. This is a disappointing end to Fitzpatrick’s major season, especially considering he was supposed to potentially snap England’s 34-year drought at The Open.

Wyndham Clark, on the other hand, has been on a similarly excellent run of form. He won his second U.S. Open title last month and had a strong week at the Scottish Open in the tune-up for The Open. Clark began the day at 3 over but had a disastrous start to his front nine with two double bogeys and three bogeys that washed out his five birdies and eagle the rest of the day. His rather staggering major championship record of having just three top 10s in his career but two of them resulting in wins will remain intact heading into 2027.

Notable players who missed the cut at the 2026 Open Championship include Aaron Rai, Harris English, Tom Kim, Justin Rose, Joaquin Niemann, Akshay Bhatia, and Jason Day. Gary Woodland and Jordan Spieth also failed to make the cut, finishing at 9 over and 10 over, respectively. The likes of Cameron Young, Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, and Tommy Fleetwood are still in the running to claim the Claret Jug.

The 2026 Open Championship is just one of many major golf tournaments this season, and fans are eagerly anticipating the rest of the action. With the likes of Fitzpatrick and Clark out of the running, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the field performs. The Open Championship is one of the most prestigious tournaments in golf, and the competition is always fierce.

In a year where golf fans have been treated to some incredible performances, it’s no surprise that the 2026 Open Championship has been just as exciting. With Lucas Herbert at the top of the leaderboard, it’s clear that anything can happen in golf. The Open Championship is a true test of skill and endurance, and only the strongest golfers will emerge victorious.

As the 2026 Open Championship heads into the weekend, fans are eagerly anticipating the final round. Will Lucas Herbert be able to hold onto his lead, or will one of the many talented golfers vying for the top spot be able to take the Claret Jug? One thing is for sure – the 2026 Open Championship has been one for the books, and golf fans will be talking about it for years to come.

With the likes of Cameron Young, Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, and Tommy Fleetwood still in the running, it’s clear that the competition will be fierce. The 2026 Open Championship has been a true test of skill and endurance, and only the strongest golfers will emerge victorious.

The 2026 Open Championship may be over for Matt Fitzpatrick and Wyndham Clark, but it’s clear that they will be back stronger than ever next season. Both golfers have shown incredible talent and dedication to the sport, and fans are eagerly anticipating their next moves.