Top 5 Names Who Missed the Cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational 2025

Bay Hill showed its wrath at the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational, with the cut line settling at a challenging 4-over par. Of the 72 players who teed it up, 19 professionals failed to make it to the weekend, highlighting the brutal difficulty of this iconic course. As Shane Lowry leads the way at 8-under par through two rounds, several big names are noticeably absent from the weekend proceedings, having fallen victim to Bay Hill’s punishing layout.

The prestigious Signature Event offers a substantial $20 million purse and features a stacked field of top competitors. Fans know Bay Hill for testing golfers with its challenging layout—water hazards, thick rough, and fast greens demand precise shot-making. Despite their talents, these five notable players couldn’t navigate the course effectively enough to make the weekend cut. Here’s a closer look at the high-profile players who missed out.

Top players who missed the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Viktor Hovland

Viktor Hovland missed the cut by a single stroke at 5-over par after posting rounds of 77-72. The Norwegian struggled notably with his approach play, as evidenced by his triple-bogey 7 on the par-4 3rd hole during Friday’s round. Despite a more consistent second day, his opening round 77 proved too complex to overcome.

According to Golf Insiders reporting on this event, Hovland’s missed cut comes amid equipment changes, including a brief putter switch at Genesis before returning to his previous model.

The 2023 FedEx Cup champion has fallen to 15th in the world rankings after reaching as high as 3rd in 2022. Since winning the Memorial Tournament and BMW Championship en route to his Tour Championship victory in 2023, Hovland has struggled to recapture that form. The former World #1 amateur and 2018 U.S. Amateur champion represented Europe in the 2021 and 2023 Ryder Cups.

But his recent performance hasn’t matched the standard set by his six PGA Tour victories.

Sahith Theegala

World No. 21 Sahith Theegala posted rounds of 78-72 to miss the cut by two strokes at 6-over par. His opening round proved particularly costly, with five bogeys and a double-bogey on the par-5 4th hole, according to ESPN’s hole-by-hole scoring. Despite a much-improved even-par second round featuring three birdies, the damage from Thursday was too significant to overcome, marking his second missed cut at Bay Hill after failing to advance in 2022.

Theegala captured his breakthrough PGA Tour victory at the 2023 Fortinet Championship and has shown flashes of brilliance since. The three-time NCAA All-American at Pepperdine University won all three major college golf awards in 2020 (Haskins, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus).

CBS Sports highlighted his T9 finish in his Masters debut in 2023 and his impressive 2021-22 season, when he led the PGA Tour in birdies made with 433.

Despite his immense talent, Bay Hill’s challenges proved too much this week. Yes, it’s another player who fell prey to the course. 

Harris English

Harris English followed his recent victory with a disappointing missed cut at Bay Hill, shooting rounds of 76-74 to finish at 6-over par. His troubles began Thursday with a double-bogey on the par-5 4th hole, and another double on the par-5 12th during Friday’s round sealed his fate.

Per PGA Tour data, English particularly struggled with his approach play, failing to capitalize on the par-5s that typically yield scoring opportunities at Bay Hill.

The five-time PGA Tour winner had recently broken a lengthy victory drought at the 2025 Farmers Insurance Open. Currently ranked 33rd in the world, English previously reached a career-high ranking of 10th in 2021 following impressive performances, including the Travelers Championship, which he won in the second-longest playoff in PGA Tour history.

The University of Georgia graduate represented the United States in the victorious 2021 Ryder Cup team and has shown significant major championship potential, as evidenced by his T3 finish at the 2021 U.S. Open.

Max Homa

Max Homa’s dramatic fall from grace continued at Bay Hill. Once ranked as high as 5th in the world but now 66th, Homa shot a shocking first-round 81 – his worst score of the year. Despite rebounding with a solid 70 on Friday, he missed the cut by three strokes at 7-over par. His Thursday disaster included nine bogeys and a double bogey, with just two birdies on the 9th and 11th holes providing minimal consolation.

Homa’s recent form represents a stark contrast to his previous success. His six PGA Tour victories showcase the talent that previously had him among the world’s elite. Known for his strong iron play and engaging social media presence, Homa’s game has deteriorated significantly in recent months.

Golf analysts suggest his January equipment change to Cobra may be contributing to his struggles, though mental elements likely play a role in his continued slide down the rankings as well.

Cameron Young

Cameron Young shot a disastrous opening-round 82, followed by a respectable 71 on Friday and missed the Arnold Palmer Invitational. According to CBS Sports, he still missed the cut by six strokes at 10-over par, marking his fourth missed cut in seven starts this season. Young’s Thursday round featured a triple-bogey 7 on the opening hole, setting the tone for a day he’d rather forget.

Once ranked as high as 13th in the world but now 52nd, Young has yet to break through with a PGA Tour victory despite multiple runner-up finishes. Fox Sports highlighted his impressive driving statistics, ranking 18th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee (0.532) and 31st in driving distance at 311.6 yards.

However, the 27-year-old continues to struggle with his prodigious length into scoring opportunities, a trend persisting through his two rounds at Bay Hill.

As these five stars regroup and prepare for their next starts, the weekend at Bay Hill moves forward without them. The Arnold Palmer Invitational would surely miss these talented golfers.

Who do you think has the best chance at a quick comeback? Let us know in the comments section below!