A number of big-name golfers are in contention heading into the weekend at the 89th Masters, setting up what could be an intense showdown for the title. However, several notable players won’t be joining the battle, having failed to make the cut after Friday’s second round. Among the most surprising absentees is Dustin Johnson, who set a tournament record when he won the 2020 Masters. Johnson struggled late in his second round, finishing with a bogey and a double-bogey to card a 3-over-par total of 147, just one stroke beyond the cut line.
Only the top 50 players and ties move on to play the final 36 holes, and this year that number was 53. The cut line was set at 2-over-par, and several high-profile players missed it. These include five-time major champion Brooks Koepka, and past Masters champions Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, and Adam Scott. Also among those heading home early were Russell Henley, ranked third in the FedEx Cup and seventh in the world, as well as 2022 Open Champion Cameron Smith, who has finished in the top 10 in five of the last seven Masters. Smith posted a total of 149. Sepp Straka, second in the FedEx Cup and ranked 14th, missed the cut by two strokes after rounds of 78 and 71. Keegan Bradley, 15th in the world, also failed to advance.
Jon Rahm, last year’s Masters champion, made the cut on the number at 2-over 146. He carded a 1-under 71 on Friday. Patrick Cantlay also posted a 146, finishing even-par for the day.
Dustin Johnson, a native of Columbia who attended Dutch Fork High School and Coastal Carolina University, expressed disappointment in his late-round performance. After opening with a 2-over 74 on Thursday, he was even par through much of Friday until mistakes on the final two holes derailed his chances. He blamed missed fairways and a three-putt on the 18th for his downfall. Reflecting on his play, Johnson said that while he felt he was playing well, a few missed putts changed the momentum of his round. Currently a LIV Golf competitor, Johnson is now turning his attention to the upcoming PGA Championship at Quail Hollow and the U.S. Open at Oakmont, where he captured his first major title. He acknowledged that his game is in good shape overall but said he needs to reduce his errors moving forward.
As for the leaderboard, Justin Rose led at 8-under-par, followed closely by Bryson DeChambeau at 7-under. Rory McIlroy and Corey Conners were both at 6-under, while Matt McCarty, Shane Lowry, Scottie Scheffler, and Tyrrell Hatton all stood at 5-under.
Russell Henley, despite missing the cut, showed resilience. After opening with a disappointing 79, he bounced back with a 4-under 68 on Friday, falling just one shot short of advancing. Henley noted that he was playing more freely in the second round, relying more on instinct and less on overthinking.
Another sentimental storyline came from Bernhard Langer, who played his final Masters at age 67. Langer nearly became the oldest player to ever make the cut at Augusta. He was in position until a tough break on the par-5 15th hole, where his third shot spun back into the water, leading to a double-bogey. He bogeyed the 18th to finish with rounds of 74 and 73 for a total of 147—missing the cut by a single shot. As he exited the course, he was greeted warmly by fans and received a hug and handshake from Masters chairman Fred Ridley. Langer, a two-time Masters champion (1985 and 1993), was met with a loud ovation as he walked off.
Jon Rahm admitted after Friday’s round that his game hasn’t been at its best. Despite grinding out several key up-and-downs to shoot under par, he acknowledged making several poor swings and mental errors when in good positions. He noted that unpredictable elements, including wind and Augusta’s tricky layout, contributed to missed opportunities. Rahm concluded that while he putted well, he just didn’t get the results he needed and now faces an uphill battle to contend over the weekend.