via Imago
Dustin Johnson walks off the eighteenth green after shooting a 65 to maintain his lead during the third round of the 2020 Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia on Saturday, November 14, 2020. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY AUG20201114418 KEVINxDIETSCH
via Imago
Dustin Johnson walks off the eighteenth green after shooting a 65 to maintain his lead during the third round of the 2020 Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia on Saturday, November 14, 2020. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY AUG20201114418 KEVINxDIETSCH
The number of LIV golfers on Saturday was always going to be less at the Masters. Not because of the 54-hole format, as Wyndham Clark suggested. But simply because only 13 of them got the chance to tee up at Augusta National, down from last year’s 18, Nevertheless, perhaps no one foresaw Dustin Johnson missing the cut.
The cutline is projected to be around 5-over, thanks to the gutsy wind making Augusta National doubly harder than it already is. Only the top 50 and ties will move on to the final two rounds. The ten-shot rule, which allowed players within ten shots of the lead to make the cut, was removed in 2020. Data Golf projects 5-over as the final cutline, with a 93.1% chance as of 5.42 PM EDT. Here are three big names who missed the cut.
Dustin Johnson
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The 4Aces captain shot a wild 13-over through two rounds to crash out unceremoniously in the first major of the season. Johnson carded 78 and 79 in the first two rounds. The 24-time PGA Tour winner only made one birdie in a ghastly second round marked by eight bogeys. The lone birdie is at par-5, Azalea. The 2020 Masters champion missed the cut for the third time in his career, the first since April 2020.
🚨Dustin Johnson finishes the week +13 over par after a 79 today. The former Masters Champ is heading home early. pic.twitter.com/jB310ZEqYE
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) April 12, 2024
Bubba Watson
Another former Masters champion and LIV captain, Bubba Watson, in all likelihood, missed the cut. The two-time Masters champion was 10-over after the first two days. The RangeGoats captain was even in the front nine. Watson made a double-bogey on the turn, entering Amen’s corner at 2-over.
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via Reuters
Golf – The Masters – Augusta National Golf Club – Augusta, Georgia, U.S. – April 5, 2022 Bubba Watson of the U.S. on the 14th green during a practice round REUTERS/Mike Blake
However, a quadruple bogey on par-4 11th, White Dogwood, all but ended his chances. On top of that, Bubba Watson made another double bogey at the par-3, 12th, Golden Bell. Although Watson exited Amen’s Corner with a birdie, the damage was done. A consecutive MC for the 12-time PGA Tour winner.
Adrian Meronk
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On the other hand, Adrian Meronk, LIV Golf’s newest addition to the league, shot 14-over. Meronk is languishing at the bottom, 88th in the 89-man leaderboard, just below Johnson. This was Meronk’s second Masters appearance. The Polish star failed to earn a Saturday berth last year as well.
LIV Golf’s brightest performer has been Bryson DeChambeau, leading in the second round as well. Phil Mickelson is 1-over with a couple more holes left to play in the second nine. Jon Rahm, the defending champion, is battling a shaky day to move up the leaderboard. The Spaniard hasn’t made a birdie yet but has already found two bogeys with seven holes left to play.
