Steve Stricker kept a personal streak alive by making the cut in the British Open, the 25th major championship since 2009 that he has played on the weekend.
However, former champions Phil Mickelson and Padraig Harrington weren't as fortunate, heading home after failing to get inside the cut line of five-over par.
Justin Thomas, who got a lot of attention in the first round when he wore a cardigan sweater and loosely fitted tie ensemble, was another to miss out.
Harrington came close, barely missing out on holing a chip on the final hole.
Mickelson, meanwhile, added a 77 to the 73 he shot in the first round to finish 10 over.
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"Unfortunately it's the first cut I've missed this year," Mickelson said.
"And I missed it with flair."
Mickelson, with his brother, Tim, on the bag in place of former longtime caddie Jim Mackay, looked like he might make a run at playing on the weekend when he opened with a birdie on the first hole.
But a triple-bogey seven on the third hole set him back and he made four straight bogeys to open the back nine.
"It's part of the game," Mickelson said.
"I don't want to put too much stock in it, because I've really been hitting the ball well and playing well.
"So rather than dwell on two rough days here, I'll go back home and get ready for these upcoming events."
It was the first cut Mickelson has missed all year. He has never gone through an entire season without missing a cut.
The 50-year-old Stricker, who tied for 16th at both the Masters and US Open this year, has never won a major championship.
He opened this one with an even-par 70, then added a 72 in blustery conditions in the second round.
Harrington, who won here the last time the Open was at Royal Birkdale in 2008, couldn't believe the chip that would have gotten him inside the cut line didn't go in.
He finished with two rounds of 73.
"It looked like it was going in all right," he said. "The story of my day."
Thomas played well on Thursday and shot 67 but he wasn't as well dressed on Friday and he didn't play nearly as well.
Opening with a double bogey, Thomas took a nine on the sixth hole after an adventure in the deep rough on his way to an 80 and the weekend off.
