What is a golfer’s worst nightmare? Bad weather on an important game? A caddie mishap? Nope. For many golfers, the ultimate nightmare is missing the cut. Missing the cut can be a crushing experience, making it seem like the end of the world. The disappointment and frustration of not making it to the weekend rounds can be overwhelming. This emotional rollercoaster is intense, and missing the cut can feel like a devastating blow to one’s confidence and career aspirations. And here’s the worst part, no one is immune to this agony. Not the rookies trying to make a name for themselves, and not even seasoned pros like Tiger Woods, who have tasted victory countless times.

With that in mind, today we’ve brought you the top 5 most brutal missed cuts in the history of the PGA Tour which are the moments that will leave you wincing in sympathy for the golfers who suffered these heartbreaking setbacks.

1. Adam Svensson falls short at the 2025 Farmers Open

First and foremost, the recent talk of golf town has been all about the Farmers Insurance Open, and well, rightfully so. Adam Svensson faced a heartbreaking moment that left the fans gutted and feeling sorry for the golfer. Svensson lined up a birdie putt on the par-5 ninth hole, but just as he was about to make his move, the horn blew, suspending play due to bad weather. Svensson missed his shot and tapped in for par, which wasn’t enough to save him from missing the cut. He finished 2 over par, one shot shy of the projected cut line, a brutal twist of fate that will keep him out of the final 36 holes.

The day was marked by high winds that caused an 86-minute delay, adding to the tension and uncertainty of the players. Svensson’s near-miss was a stark reminder that in golf, even the smallest margins can make all the difference.

2. Tiger Woods’s unbeaten streak came to an end in 2005

One would think that after having a gazillion victories, a golfer would finally have some tricks up his sleeves to avoid missing the cut, right? No, wrong. And the best example of that is the GOAT himself, Tiger Woods. Back in May 2005, Woods’s incredible 142-tournament streak without missing a cut came to a shocking end at the Byron Nelson Championship. It was a dramatic conclusion, with Woods missing a 15-foot par putt on the 18th hole finishing 1 over par, and missing the cut by a single stroke. The streak, which had been a record, was an astonishing seven years in the making, with Woods having last missed a cut at the 1998 Canadian Open. “I just had a tough day. Things I don’t normally do, I did today”, he said when asked about his performance.

3. Tom Kim’s agonizing collapse at the 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship

When talking about the most brutal missed cuts in PGA Tour history, one has to talk about Tom Kim’s game at the 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship. Tom Kim’s momentum from the third round wasn’t enough to carry him through to the finish line, as a late meltdown on Sunday ultimately ended his playoffs. He finished bogey-double bogey-double bogey at TPC Southwind, plummeting from a projected 45th place to 51st, which likely kept him out of the Tour Championship and next year’s signature events. “This season has just been like this. I’ve played really good golf and then had some tough finishes. I feel like 2024 has really kicked me in the b**t,” Kim reflected on his rollercoaster season, which saw him fight back from 90-something in the standings, only to fall agonizingly short.

4. Keith Mitchell’s Players Championship blunder

The fourth in line has to be, Keith Mitchell’s infamous missed cut at the 2023 Players Championship, which was more like a comedy of errors. Mitchell’s rollercoaster round had already seen four birdies and four bogeys when he arrived at the treacherous par-4 fifth hole, where his drive sliced brutally into the water, accompanied by a perfectly timed horn blast signaling an impending thunderstorm, making it seem like the universe was mocking his shot. To add insult to injury, Mitchell’s calm demeanor afterward was punctuated by a deadpan exchange with his caddie, who dryly observed, “It did not” cover the water, leaving Mitchell to ponder what could have been.

5. Justin Thomas’s 2024 Masters meltdown

Last but not least, Justin Thomas’s implosion at the Masters is a painful reminder that even the best golfers can have a disastrous day. Thomas was cruising along at even par until the 15th hole, where his layup attempt hooked wildly into the pond, triggering a downward spiral that included three doubles and a bogey over the final four holes, culminating in a shocking 79 that sent him packing. The collapse was all the more stunning given Thomas’ stellar Masters record, having made seven consecutive cuts before missing the last two.  What was the most brutal missed cut among these, according to you? Let us know in the comment section below!