Notable Players That Missed The Cut

PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND – JULY 17: Collin Morikawa of the United States stands on the 12th tee … More box during the first round of The Open Championship at Royal Portruch Golf Club on July 17, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

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Royal Portrush proved to be a tough test through the first two rounds, and while the leader Scottie Scheffler sits at ten under par, several notable players failed to make the cut.

Brooks Koepka

Using a Titleist driver this week, there was hope the change would propel Brooks Koepka back into the winner’s circle. Instead, Koepka is headed home early. A first-round 75 followed by a second round 74 resulted in another missed cut for the once-dominant major championship performer. Koepka’s swing coach, Pete Cowen, mentioned “a slight twinge” in his knee during a range interview earlier in the week.

Matthieu Pavon

Matthieu Pavon tried to claw his way back into the tournament after an opening-round 76, following it with an even par 71 in the second round. Pavon had strong starts in both the U.S. Open and PGA Championship this year but faltered with high scores over the weekend. He gained attention for his strong Olympic performance, a fifth place finish at the 2024 U.S. Open, and his win at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in 2024.

PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND – JULY 18: Brooks Koepka of the United States tees off the during the … More first round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 18, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

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Collin Morikawa

Winless since October 2023, Collin Morikawa has still had a solid 2025 season, with two runner-up finishes and a current ranking of sixth in the World Golf Rankings. Morikawa famously won the Open Championship in his first appearance in 2021 at Royal St. George’s. Though he has proven capable on links courses, he missed the cut at both the Open Championship and the Scottish Open this year. Morikawa continues to search for answers, now on his fourth caddie of the season. We’ll see how long veteran caddie Billy Foster stays on the bag after these recent finishes.

Joaquin Niemann

A standout on the LIV Tour with four wins this year, Joaquin Niemann narrowly missed the cut, finishing one stroke outside the mark at two over par. He currently leads the LIV Tour points standings after victories in Adelaide, Mexico City, Virginia, and Singapore. Niemann opened with a 70, just three shots back of the leaders, but followed with a second round 74 to miss the weekend.