Golf Giants Fall Short as Masters Cut Claims Major Stars

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The 2025 Masters Tournament has reached a pivotal halfway point, with the field trimmed down after Friday’s second round. The cut line fell at two under par, sending 42 players home early from the historic Augusta National Golf Club, including some major stars in the sport.

Scottie Scheffler currently leads at eight under par, while fifty-three players finished two-over or worse, marking their departure from the tournament. Notable figures such as five-time major champion Brooks Koepka and two-time Masters winner Dustin Johnson headlined the high-profile contingent that missed the cut.

Koepka’s struggles were palpable as he ended with a disastrous quadruple-bogey on the final hole, finishing at five over. “It’s frustrating,” Koepka said. “I had a decent position and let it slip away.” Similarly, Johnson finished with a 74-73, missing the cut by a single stroke. Johnson’s lack of recent form continued at Augusta; he has not scored a top 10 in his past five appearances.

In perhaps a bittersweet farewell, Bernhard Langer, competing in his 41st and final Masters, narrowly missed the cut after carding a double-bogey on 15 and a bogey on 18 to finish at +3. “It was amazing to be here one last time, but it’s hard to leave without making the weekend,” Langer said during an emotional interview.

Other significant names falling short include Sergio Garcia, who posted a +4 with rounds of 72-76, and Phil Mickelson, who shot 75-74, marking his first missed cut at Augusta since 2016. Both players echoed the sentiment of disappointment as they failed to regain the magic that previously made them contenders.

Young talents like Sepp Straka and Will Zalatoris also faced unexpected exits, with Straka ending at five over after stumbling on the final holes of both rounds. “Just one bad hole can ruin everything here,” Straka commented post-round. Zalatoris, who finished at +8 with rounds of 74-78, suffered his worst performance at the Masters, having previously never finished worse than T9 in his first three appearances.

The Masters is notorious for its cut format, where only the top 50 players and ties advance to the weekend. This year’s cut was particularly brutal with the exclusion of several prominent players who have previously thrived during major championships.

As the tournament progresses into the weekend, attention shifts to the remaining contenders, emphasizing the timeless struggle of Augusta National, a course that has proven to challenge both rising stars and established veterans alike. The remaining field now focuses on securing the coveted green jacket, while the coaches and analysts assess how these giants fell short.