“Five big names that failed to qualify for the 2026 Masters.”

The storm at Augusta National has already taken down several golf stars, and the 2026 Masters Tournament is witnessing surprising eliminations right from the first rounds. With the pressure mounting, five heavyweights have been humiliated by failing to make the cut, shocking fans and experts alike. Get ready to find out who the big losers of this iconic event are.

J.J. Spaun, the 2025 U.S. Open champion, arrived at Augusta with high confidence after winning the Valero Texas Open with an impressive 17 under par. Everyone expected the world number 5 to shine in this first major of the season. But the reality was cruel: a score of 2 over par on Thursday, followed by 3 over on the second day, left him out of the competition by just one stroke. This setback is particularly painful for Spaun, who has never managed to excel at Augusta, having missed the top-20 in his two previous appearances, and now suffers his first missed cut in this emblematic tournament.

Another giant who could not withstand the pressure was Robert MacIntyre. After three top-5 finishes this year, the Scot seemed ready for a solid performance. However, a catastrophic start with 8 over par in the first round made recovery impossible, even with a 1 under par on the second day. MacIntyre joins Spaun on the list of big names who will have to head home early, marking his second consecutive missed cut in a major.

Tom McKibbin, a promising young talent and protégé of defending champion Rory McIlroy, also fell short of glory. With a score of 7 over par, the same as MacIntyre, McKibbin could not withstand the pressure. His season in LIV Golf has been mediocre, with his best result being a 17th place in Riyadh, and this was his first Masters, where his debut did not go as expected.

The name generating the most controversy is Cameron Smith, winner of the 2022 Open Championship and recently reinstated in the PGA Tour through the returning members program. Smith posted a score of 2 over par on Thursday that still left hope, but a disastrous 5 over par on Friday ensured his early elimination. Despite a solid track record at Augusta, with four top-6 finishes and two top-10s in LIV Golf this season, Smith could not find his rhythm, leaving many to question whether his reinstatement was the right decision.

Finally, José María Olazábal, a living legend of golf and two-time Masters champion, started the tournament strong, leading with two birdies right from the first shots. However, age took its toll, and his performance collapsed with bogeys and a double bogey, culminating in a total of 9 over par, once again missing the cut. Although his elimination is not unexpected, it remains a blow for fans of the Spaniard.

These five names, a mix of stars and veterans, represent a shock for the 2026 Masters, showing that even the greatest are not immune to the brutality of Augusta National. With the cut now set at +4, the battle for the title promises to be fierce and unpredictable. Stay tuned for what remains of one of the greatest spectacles in world golf!

This article first appeared on Apito Final.