[Main Photo: Getty Images]
Friday cut-line drama at the Masters. It’s what the kids call “cinema.”
This feature-length film of sorts started with a bang early in Round 2 and finished strong as the sun set on Augusta National. By day’s end, a number of the more recognisable players of past and present had their weekend fates sealed – if two-over par or better was not next to their names, they were headed home early.
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Perhaps the biggest will-he-or-won’t-he cut line story of the week belonged to Bernhard Langher, who came oh so close, just missing his par attempt at the 18th hole to finish at three over in his final Masters appearance. He gave a valiant effort, but unfortunately ended his Augusta National career with a streak of four straight missed cuts.
Here are 11 other big names who won’t be hanging around for Rounds 3 and 4.
Phil Mickelson
The Masters legend had seemingly found some form early in the LIV season but it did not carry over into this Masters. The most upsetting part for the Phil faithful? Lefty went in the water on both the par-5 13th (he went for it in two) AND the par-5 15th (on his third shot). While he did save par at 13, he doubled 15 and limped home to miss the cut at Augusta for the first time since 2016.
Brooks Koepka 
[Image: Harry How]
Perhaps the biggest stunner of all, and not just for the name-brand value. Koepka arrived the 17th tee Friday safely inside the line at even par. Even with a disappointing bogey-bogey finish, he’d still get two more cracks at Augusta. Instead, he went bogey-QUADRUPLE-bogey to finish at five-over. It’s his first missed cut in a major championship since the 2022 Open Championship, and Koepka has now failed to register a top 10 in seven major appearances since his 2023 PGA Championship victory.
Russell Henley
While you may not consider Henley a “big” name, he was a hugely popular betting pick this week, much of that due to his overall consistency and a confidence-building win in the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month. A first-round 79 had a lot of folks ripping up their 55-1 tickets. Henley fought hard Friday, making six birdies, but bogeys at No.1 and No.18 spoiled what would have been an incredible cut comeback story.
Dustin Johnson 
[Image: JD Cuban]
It wasn’t quite a Koepka-like collapse, but DJ was similarly safely inside the cut line at even par, getting all the way back with birdies on 14 and 15. He finished bogey, double-bogey to drop to three over to miss by one. Since his victory in 2020, he’s missed the weekend three times in five tries.
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Adam Scott
A Thursday 77 proved too much to overcome for the former champ on Friday (Scott shot even). How’s this for a shocker? This was the first time the Aussie is leaving Augusta early since 2009 (!), and it’s only his third trunk slam in 24 career Masters appearances.
Will Zalatoris 
[Image: Stephen Denton]
Zalatoris has finished in the top 10 in all three of his trips to the Masters, including his very first, when he posted a solo second and we all assumed he’d win a jacket in the near future. Instead, back issues have stunted his early-career growth. His last top 10 in any event came in the 2024 Masters.
Cameron Smith
The former Players and Open champion was a perfect 8-for-8 in making the cut at Augusta so far in his career, with five top 10s along the way. After starting with a one-under 71, he looked well on his way to 9-for-9, but a six-over 78 Friday sunk him outside the top 50. He’s now missed back-to-back major cuts, and his last individual victory came in November of 2022 at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship.
Keegan Bradley
After missing the Masters entirely three straight times between 2020 and 2022, the US Ryder Cup captain finished T-23 in 2023 and T-22 in 2024, which matched his best career result at Augusta. Rounds of 74 and 73 saw him miss the cut by one stroke. Silver lining – the less high finishes in majors, the less he has to worry about being a playing captain at Bethpage in the fall.
Tony Finau
At three-over on 16 tee, Finau went pin-seeking with the weekend on the line. He damn near holed it, then missed the five-footer for birdie, then bogeyed the 17th. Quite the sequence of events. This is Finau’s first career missed cut at the Masters.
Sergio Garcia 
[Image: Harry How]
Following a solo third at LIV Golf Miami, Garcia had to feel good about his chances at the place he captured his lone major in 2017. He started with an even-par 72 but faltered on Friday to a four-over 76. The Spaniard has missed six out of the last seven Masters cuts.
Fred Couples
Freddie turned back the clock as always on Thursday, but a Friday 77 saw America’s favourite dream winner die. Couples has made the weekend just once at Augusta since 2018.
