Defending champion Dustin Johnson led a sensational exit from the 85th Masters after the 36-hole at Augusta National fell to three on top. Johnson, the world’s no. 1 which advanced to 20 below par here in November was after fifth and 74th 75 plus.
Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Sergio García, Jason Day, Patrick Cantlay and Im Sungjae Im Sung-jae – who was second to Johnson at the end of last year – suffered the same fate. Although Matthew Wolff is destined for a missed cut anyway, he was disqualified on Friday night after drawing for a lower score than he delivered on the 17th hole of his second round.
“It was clear I wanted to be this weekend,” Johnson said. “I love this golf course. I feel like I’m playing it very well. I just did not sit very well. It’s pretty simple. “Six tries in two rounds, you just can not do it,” he continued. ‘Of course I did not drive it well, but I drove well enough, and I felt that I was never really bad from position, only the three-holes killed me. You take away all three set holders, I’m one down. That was kind of the difference. I just did not sit very well. ”
Koepka’s scenario can easily be explained by undergoing knee surgery just last month. Not that the four times the biggest winner has been bothered by mitigating circumstances. “How disappointed do you think I am?” Ask Koepka. “I finished off my ass just to get here and then play like that is quite disappointing.”
Koepka, who matches Johnson’s score, has suggested he will not play competitively again before the next major of the year. The US PGA Championship takes place at the end of May on Kiawah Island.
“I would not have played a month if it were not for this week,” he added. ‘I take a nice long break after this. If I look at it, I have two more days to do rehabilitation that I probably would not get if I were here, and I will get ready for the PGA. ”
García missed the cut by one, mainly due to a Thursday 76; the 2017 champion drew 72 in the second round. “I think I played great,” he said. ‘It’s just hard to know what to say. I felt like I was playing today, I should never have shot more than two or three below the track mark. That must have been my worst score, and somehow I do not know why, it just would not happen. I could not shoot one more shot than today, as I played. ”
McIlroy, who has not missed an Augusta track since his second Masters appearance in 2010, has not appeared for media engagements. Friday’s 74 was two strokes better than day one. Kiawah can provide resignation; McIlroy won the U.S. PGA there in 2012 by eight.