Augusta, Georgia – The 2026 Masters turned out to be a real bloodbath for some of the biggest stars in world golf, with Bryson DeChambeau experiencing a nightmare finish that saw him out of the competition at the cut stage. After a disastrous start with a round of 76 (+4), it seemed that the American, a two-time U.S. Open champion, might still secure passage to the tournament’s decisive two days. However, drama unfolded on the last hole of the second round.
On the 18th tee, DeChambeau opted for a wood, but the shot went completely awry, veering right into the trees. From there, recovery seemed possible: his third shot was a quality strike that took him to the front left bunker of the green. Even with a bogey, he could still survive the cut. But what followed was an absolute disaster: the ball got stuck in the sand, and in trying to place it ideally for the putt, it ended up back at his feet. The fourth shot fell short, rolling off the green, and the fifth went twelve feet past the hole. DeChambeau missed the putt, finishing with a triple bogey that left him six over par, two strokes outside the cut line. A brutal fall for the player who had finished in the top 10 in three of the last five editions of the Masters.
But the American was not the only big name to be eliminated this Friday in Augusta. The current U.S. Open champion, J.J. Spaun, started the round just two over par but slipped to six over after 11 holes and, despite managing two birdies in the last three holes, ended up missing the cut by just one stroke, marking his first missed cut in the last five majors.
Akshay Bhatia, tipped as one of the tournament’s revelations after his victory at Bay Hill, also couldn’t hold on. After a first day with 73 strokes, Bhatia started well on Friday, making three birdies in the first six holes, but a disastrous second half with 44 strokes left him out of contention, two strokes off the cut. The young player with three circuit victories has an inconsistent record in majors, with five missed cuts in ten appearances and only one top 20.
Another big name was Nicolai Hojgaard, 36th in the world rankings, who came off an impressive Masters debut, finishing 16th in 2024. However, the Dane couldn’t replicate the success, scoring six strokes over par in two rounds and missing the cut for the second consecutive time.
Robert MacIntyre, who has accumulated several top 10 finishes in major tournaments last season, suffered a severe blow on the first day with a round of 80 strokes, which included a controversial gesture on the 15th hole, earning him an official reprimand. This result seriously compromised his chances in the tournament.
The Australians Cameron Smith and Min Woo Lee were also victims of Augusta’s rigour. Smith, known for his recent negative record, missed the cut for the sixth consecutive time in majors, despite his victory at the Open Championship in St. Andrews in 2022 now seeming distant. Min Woo Lee, the “Chef” of golf, couldn’t cook up positive results, finishing 11 strokes over par and already accumulating four consecutive missed cuts in majors.
This 2026 Masters is marked by shocking eliminations and the fall of some of the biggest promises and stars in world golf. While Augusta National continues to show why it is one of the most demanding stages in sport, fans are gearing up for a weekend where only the most resilient will survive to fight for golf’s most prestigious title.
If you want to follow all the news and analysis of this Masters, stay tuned for updates and rankings, and don’t miss the most decisive moments yet to come in this historic tournament.
