Dustin Johnson leads list of big names who missed the cut at PGA Championship
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Is it time to worry?
Dustin Johnson more than likely won’t spend any time fretting over his current state, but the world No. 1’s recent struggles continued as he shot 76-74 to miss the cut in the 103rd PGA Championship on The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island.
The man with 24 PGA Tour titles, two majors and plenty of firepower collected just three birdies in 36 holes – a number matched by his double bogeys. A look at his stats shows he didn’t do anything well except for driving distance.
Johnson, who won four times in 2020, including his second major at the Masters, has now gone seven starts on the PGA Tour without a top 10, a stretch that includes two missed cuts and three finishes of 48th or worse. Last week, he withdrew from the AT&T Byron Nelson citing knee discomfort but said earlier this week he was fine and was playing well.
He is the first world No. 1 to miss consecutive cuts in majors since Greg Norman trunk slammed in the Masters and U.S. Open in 1997.
Others heading home include world No. 2 Justin Thomas, No. 4 Xander Schauffele and major champions Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott.
As the winds died down a bit late in the afternoon and into the evening, the cut number ticked lower, moving from 3 over to 4 over and settling on 5 over.
The top 70 and ties made it to the weekend. That means 81 of the 156 players who started on Thursday advance.
Among those making it on the number were 2015 PGA champ Jason Day, 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed and 2016 Open champion Henrik Stenson, who rolled in a 20-footer for birdie on his last to get to 5 over.
They have a chance to win the Wanamaker Trophy – however remote it may be.
Here are the notables who don’t.
Justin Thomas
Justin Thomas hits out of the bunker to the 10th hole during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament on the Ocean Course Friday, May 21, 2021, in Kiawah Island, S.C. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
The 2017 PGA champion and 2021 Players champion never found his finest form, especially around the turn in the first round when he made two bogeys and a double bogey in four holes. His quest to play weekend rounds was stifled when he shot 3-over 39 on the front nine on Friday. He gave it a spirited run, however, making birdie from 40 feet on the 17th and just missing a birdie from 17 feet on the last to miss by one shot.
Xander Schauffele
Xander Schauffele stands next to his ball that landed under a fan's chair near the 18th green during the second round of the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island Resort's Ocean Course on May 21, 2021 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
He was one of the pre-tournament favorites and deservedly so – he had eight top 10s in majors in 16 starts and doesn’t shy from the big stage. But a back-nine 40 on Friday – which included a bogey on his final hole – dropped him out of the field by one shot. It’s his first missed cut in a major since 2017.
Max Homa
Max Homa and caddie Jim 'Bones' Mackay walk the second hole during the second round of the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island Resort's Ocean Course on May 21, 2021 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The winner of the Genesis Invitational had Jim “Bones” Mackay on the bag but the former long-time looper for Phil Mickelson and current superb on-course golf analyst could only watch as Homa shot 78-76.
Adam Scott
Adam Scott hits his tee shot on the 9th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)
The Aussie seemed a good fit for The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island – long off the tee, supreme ball-striker, experienced. But the 2013 Masters champion started his tournament with a triple bogey and never recovered and signed for rounds of 78-72. He has just one top 10 this year.
Sergio Garcia
Sergio Garcia hits on the eighth tee box during the second round of the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports
The 2017 Masters champion missed his fourth consecutive cut with rounds of 77-73, a poor stretch that started at Augusta National in April. He looked to be in fine form heading into the Masters after notching four top-12s in six starts but he’s looked flat and off form ever since.
Tommy Fleetwood
Tommy Fleetwood hits from the eighth tee box during the second round of the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports
The Englishman and star on the European Tour won’t win his first PGA Tour title this week after rounds of 75-76. More was predicted from Fleetwood, who plays beautifully in the wind and likes the big stage. But his form has been off for some time and he hasn’t won since 2019.
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