British Open Projected Cut Line 2026: Who Will Miss The Cut At Royal Birkdale?

The final major championship of the season is almost here, with the world’s best golfers set to battle for the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale. As the field prepares to tee off, bettors will be keeping a close eye on the Open Championship odds, where defending champion Scottie Scheffler enters the week as the favorite to win another major title.

Once play begins, the Open Championship projected cut line will be one of the biggest storylines to follow, as only the top 70 players and ties will advance to the weekend. While the favorites deserve plenty of attention, don’t overlook the British Open sleeper picks. Links golf has a long history of producing surprise contenders, and a player with longer odds could once again find themselves in the mix come Sunday.

Before clicking “yes” for any bet on the British Open cut line, you will want to make sure you have all the latest tournament information.

Making sure you are informed of the golfer’s current form and style of course are just a couple of things to pay attention to when doing your pre-tournament research.

Knowing which golfers play better in the wind and rain as well as who are the strong drivers of the ball and iron players will also help you make better choices in selecting who you will take this week.

British Open projected cut line latest

When betting on the British Open you should make sure to pay close attention to your wager. The PGA Tour does offer updates but the information they provide may not always be exact. Data Golf is a great destination for reliable probabilities and percentages to predict the cut line.

The British Open cut line finished at +1 in 2025, which meant a lot of top players in the field went home empty handed. The Open Championship cut line in 2026 settled at +1 as well.

Here are some notable players who missed the British Open cut line in 2026.

Betting on the British Open cut line

The cut line at the British Open is the most important factor in determining who gets to play the final two rounds of the tournament. If a player can’t reach this mark they are eliminated from the tournament and don’t get paid. If the player makes the cut line, they get to play the final two rounds and receive a pay cheque following the conclusion of the tournament.

The better the player finishes the more money they make following the final round. The cut line acts as an additional motivator for players to guarantee themselves the money come Sunday.

British Open Cut Line 2026 odds

Weather and course conditions will once again play a major role in determining The Open Championship projected cut line. With that in mind, there’s could be value in betting on top players to miss the British Open cut line. Even Scottie Scheffler, the tournament favorite, isn’t a safe bet to make it through the weekend – the world’s No. 1 missed his first cut in nearly 80 starts at the Scottish Open last weekend and has shown signs that he may be human after all this season.

The last time the Royal Birkdale hosted the championship in 2017, notable players including Si Woo Kim, Padraig Harrington, Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed, and future Open champion Brian Harman all failed to make the cut, highlighting just how unpredictable the tournament can be.

British Open Odds 2026 to miss the cut: Top picks

Wyndham Clark | +250

Wyndham Clark to miss the cut is an intriguing value play in The Open Championship cut line odds market. While he finished fourth at Royal Troon last year, that result came despite opening with a 76, a reminder of the inconsistency that has followed him in links golf. Outside of that standout finish, Clark’s Open record is far less convincing. He missed the cut in 2024, finished T33 the year before, and was T76 in his first Open appearance.

Across those three tournaments, Clark posted just two rounds in the 60s out of 10, while also carding an 80. With links golf often punishing erratic ball striking and poor course management, hecarries more missed-cut risk than many of the other favorites in the field.

Cameron Young | +225

Cameron Young to miss the cut stands out as an appealing option in The Open Championship cut line odds market. After showing flashes of elite form last season and early in 2026, Young has cooled off, finishing T47 at the Travelers Championship and T43 at the U.S. Open in his last two starts.

Young’s Open Championship results have also trended in the wrong direction since an impressive runner-up finish at St Andrews in 2022. He followed that with a T8 in 2023, slipped to T31 in 2024, and then missed the cut at Royal Portrush last year. While his length is an asset, links golf has become increasingly challenging for Young, making another early exit a realistic possibility if his recent struggles continue.

Shane Lowry | +175

Shane Lowry to miss the cut is a contrarian pick that could offer value in The Open Championship cut line odds market. The 2019 Open champion remains one of the strongest links players in the world, but his recent form has been underwhelming. Lowry has finished outside the top 40 in three of his last four starts, raising questions about whether he can recapture the consistency that has made him a perennial contender at this event.

While his Open pedigree is undeniable, recent results suggest he has been struggling to put together four solid rounds, and even a slow start over the opening two days could leave him on the wrong side of the cut line. At short odds to make the weekend, there’s a case that the value lies with Lowry missing the cut.

British Open cut rule

At the British Open players are required to reach the cut line following the second round to qualify for play in the final two rounds. In this week’s event it could conceivably knock out a massive portion of the field as 156 golfers are in action but only the top 70, plus ties, will make it through to the weekend. The rest of the field will then be eliminated from the event.

The cut line serves as a standard set by the PGA Tour to make sure that the best players that given week qualify for a pay day. In return, high-quality golf is usually what is the determining factor in who makes and who doesn’t make the cut after the second round comes to an end.

The Open Championship 2026 odds to win

Odds accurate as of July 16

British Open cut line history

Over the last few years, the British Open has had a cut line of ranging between even par and +6 after the first two rounds. While even par or better seems to be a lock to make it to the weekend, conditions can always play a factor in that. But if history is any indication, even par or better should see a player cash a pay cheque this week.

British Open projected cut line FAQs

How is the cut line determined at the British Open?

Making it to the third round and beyond at the British Open depends on whether a player makes it into the top 70, plus ties, following the second round of play. Failing to meet the cut leads to elimination from the tournament for the player and disqualifies them from competing on the weekend or receiving a cash prize. This rule means the best players this week will move on to play on the weekend and exclude those who don’t meet the necessary requirements.

What does it mean to make the cut in golf?

Securing a spot above the cut line is the first goal in golf tournaments for a player if they want to compete in the later rounds that then earn cash prizes. Meeting this goal is the only way to guarantee that a player gets paid for competing in the tournament. Shooting above the cut line means a pay day following the event for each golfer that meets the specified number and allows them to continue participation in the event.

Do you get paid when you miss the cut at the British Open?

Competitors who do not reach the cut line at the British Open lose out on the opportunity to compete for prize money. A player’s overall prize winnings are dependent on their performance across all four rounds. Missing the cut line leads to elimination from the tournament, denying players the chance to vie for a portion of the prize pool.