The Masters: 8 big names who missed the cut

The first men’s major of the year is already over for some of the game’s biggest names after the cut fell at the 88th Masters.

Jon Rahm has looked a shadow of his usual self this week, and he looked set to become just the tenth defending champion in 50 years to miss the weekend, but late birdies on Thursday rescued the Spaniard. Rory McIlroy also flirted with the cutline as he struggled in the wind, but in the end a 77 was enough – though it leaves the Grand Slam chasing Irishman ten back of the leading pack going into the third round.

But who wasn’t as fortunate on a raucous second day at Augusta? Here’s a look at some of those who’ll need to make new plans this weekend…

Wyndham Clark: +7

The US Open champion was at the centre of the chaos of the last hour on Friday at Augusta National. Clark was on the right side of the cut line for most of the day, before an ill-timed three putt on 17 put him the wrong side of the mark. He had a chance to sneak back into the weekend on the last, but his birdie putt slipped by and he missed the weekend by a single shot. Ouch.

Sergio Garcia: +7

What did the 2017 champion have lined up to wear this weekend? Alas, we’ll never know. The Fireballs GC captain will play no further part in the tournament after miserable back nine on Friday. Garcia played his final four holes in five-over to miss the cut for the second year in a row. Bizarrely, he has featured only once at the weekend since his victory here seven years ago – which suddenly seems like a very, very long time ago.

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Justin Rose: +7

The former world No.1 has been struggling a bit for form recently. He’s yet to record a top-10 finish on the PGA Tour in 2024 and missed the cut on his two most recent starts: the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players. Alas, he’s got another free weekend coming up, due largely to a six-over 78 on day two.

Justin Thomas +7

Justin Thomas’ finish? 7-5-5-6. Brutal. The two-time PGA champion’s switch of caddie on the eve of the tournament looked to be working before dropping seven shots in his final four holes. His 2023 major misery has continued into another year.

Viktor Hovland +8

The Norwegian finished in the top-20 of all four majors last year – including a tie for seventh here – and won three more PGA Tour titles en route to banking the bumper FedEx Cup jackpot. But he has since decided to work on changing his swing which has affected his form. He looked okay here after an opening 71, but he struggled in Friday’s wind and a disastrous second round 81 means he now has an extra weekend to work on it…

Brian Harman: +9

The hunter becomes the hunted. Fancied by many to (a) win back-to-back majors and (b) continue the tradition of lefties winning The Masters, full-time golfer part-time turkey-killer Harman had a week to forget. Most of the damage was done by a horrendous back-nine 47 in round one. A very unhappy homecoming for the Georgia native. 

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Jordan Spieth: +9

Where do you even start? The double-bogey on the opening hole? The nine on 15 in round one? The 2015 champion truly is the most bewildering player on the planet. T3 here in 2021. Missed the cut in 2022. T4 in 2023. Missed cut this year. Logic would suggest he’ll finish T5 next year, then. To do that, he’ll need to arrest his woefully inconsistent form. Three missed cuts in his last four starts on the PGA Tour? Troubling.

Dustin Johnson +13

After winning LIV’s showpiece event in Las Vegas in February, Johnson sent a warning to the rest of the golf world.  “This year, I’ve got a little more drive and determination,” he said. “I don’t enjoy not playing well. I enjoy playing well and being up here and talking to you guys after holding up the trophy.” There was nothing to fear about DJ’s 36 holes here, though. A 78 and 79 added up to a +13 aggregate and an early jet home. 

Hear more of our thoughts in our Masters daily commute episodes of The bunkered Podcast from Augusta!