The 5 big names that missed the cut at the AIG Women’s Open

These players are heading home after missing the cut at Royal Portrush.

As Friday’s second round came to a close at Royal Porthcawl, the cut was made at +3, with 71 players from a field of 144 making it through to moving day at the Women’s Open.

Germany’s Sophia Popov got play underway with the first tee shot at 6.30am on Thursday morning. The first two days of the tournament experienced mixed weather, with spectators needing sunglasses one minute, and an umbrella the next. But that’s the joys of links golf, right?

Let’s take a look at the big names heading home from Wales.

Lilia Vu

Score 74-77 (+7)

2023 AIG Women’s Open Champion Lilia Vu got off to a promising start, opening the tournament with a birdie on the very first hole. The momentum didn’t last, though, as four bogeys followed, turning the early fireworks into a grind. She righted the ship with a solid finish, including birdies at 9, 10, and 15. Round two, however, was a rougher ride. Four dropped shots on the front nine and another three on the back proved too much to overcome. Even with birdies at 11 and 17, the two-time major winner couldn’t keep pace, finishing her week at +7 and on the wrong side of the cut.

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Maja Stark

Score 74-78 (+8)

Sweden’s Maja Stark, currently sitting at No. 9 in the Rolex Women’s Golf Rankings, came out swinging on day one at the Women’s Open, firing a tidy 2-under 34 on the front nine. But the back nine had other plans. She gave those strokes right back and then some, finishing the round at +2. Friday didn’t offer much relief either. Six more shots slipped away, and just like that, any dreams of making a weekend charge were firmly out of bounds.

Ruoning Yin

Score 74-77 (+7)

World number 4 Ruoning Yin opened her week at Royal Porthcawl with a mixed bag. 2-over on the front nine, steady level par on the back, leaving her at +2 heading into Friday. Round two brought a hint of promise with four birdies, but the bogeys came knocking a little too often, and she finished up at +7 through 36 holes. It’s a tough reminder that even top-ranked players can get knocked around in the tricky Welsh links weather.

Jennifer Kupcho

Score 75-75 (+6)

Major champion Jennifer Kupcho’s performance through 36 holes was nothing if not steady. She carded an impressive 26 pars, making her scorecard one of the most consistent in the field. Yet even that consistency wasn’t enough to buy her a ticket to the weekend’s play. Her first bogey came in round one, on the tricky par‑3 8th hole. Playing a mere 122‑yards, the hole has a severely undulating green hemmed in by bunkers, making it one of the trickiest holes on the course.

Hannah Green

Score 79-77 (+12)

Major champion Hannah Green had a rocky start to her week at Royal Porthcawl, with a double bogey and a triple marring her opening round. Sitting at +7 heading into Friday, she faced an uphill battle to claw her way back into contention. Things didn’t get any easier when another triple showed up early, this time on the par-4 second hole. Though she managed to sprinkle in birdies on the 6th and 18th, the damage was done. She wrapped up her tournament at +12, falling short of the cut and her hopes of a weekend charge. Green currently sits just outside the top 10 of the Rolex rankings.

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