Scottie Scheffler's cut streak ends at Genesis Scottish Open as Rory McIlroy leads

World number one Scottie Scheffler saw his impressive streak of cuts made come to an end on Friday at the Genesis Scottish Open held at the Renaissance Club. After 1,428 days and 78 events, Scheffler missed the cut, finishing at level par, two strokes shy of the cut line. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy took the lead with a solid second-round performance.

Scottie Scheffler's Unexpected Exit

On July 10, 2026, Scheffler's missed cut marked the first time since the 2022 FedEx St Jude Championship that he failed to make it to the weekend in a PGA Tour event. His second-round score of 72 included two bogeys early on and a disappointing finish with a bogey on the last hole, extinguishing any hope of recovery.

Reflecting on his performance, Scheffler stated, "It felt like nothing was going right. I didn’t really feel like I played that bad." Despite his struggles, he acknowledged his consistent performance throughout the year, having not finished outside the top 25 in any tournament since 2024.

Rory McIlroy Retains the Lead

In contrast to Scheffler's woes, Rory McIlroy showcased his skill, shooting a 66 to share the lead at nine under par. Tied with McIlroy are Jordan Smith, who posted the lowest round of the day with a 63, and South Korea's Tom Kim.

McIlroy, who had a rocky start with four birdies in his opening eight holes, noted, "Once we turned for home the wind got its strongest for the day and it was hard to hit it close." His performance solidified his position as a top contender going into the weekend.

Key Performers and Future Outlook

Among other notable players, Matt Fitzpatrick surged up the leaderboard with a 65, now sitting at eight under, while Bob MacIntyre finished with a 66, just two strokes behind the leaders. The longest active streak of consecutive cuts made is now held by Fitzpatrick at 28.

As Scheffler prepares for the upcoming Open Championship, he remains uncertain about returning to the Scottish Open next year, stating, "This is a golf course I feel like I can play well on. I just haven’t for some reason." He will reflect on this experience as he looks to defend his title next week.