AUGUSTA, Ga. — Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson once were feared when it came to the majors.
No more.
The two LIV Golfers and former world No. 1s combined to go 8-over par on the final two holes Friday at the Masters, knocking both outside the cut line.
Koepka and Johnson, both from Jupiter, were two of five LIV golfers to miss the cut, which landed at 2-over. Seven golfers from the Saudi-backed league return for the weekend, led by Bryson DeChambeau, whose 68 Friday put him at 8-under. DeChambeau is one shot behind leader Justin Rose.
Koepka closed with an 8 on the par-4 18th after a bogey on No. 17 to finish with a 75, leaving him 5-over for his two rounds. He was in a good spot after an eagle on No. 15 got him to even par for the tournament.
But then came the meltdown.
Koepka, a five-time major champion, has now finished outside the top 25 in each of his last six majors. It was just his third missed cut in a major in the last 12 years.
After taking a penalty off the tee on 18, Koepka was on the fringe about 30 feet from the hole after four shots. His final four shots all were putts and he missed a four-footer for triple bogey.
Dustin Johnson ends bogey, double to miss cut
Johnson was 2-under for his round when he stepped to the 17th tee Friday and put his shot into the left pine straw. That ended with his third bogey of the day.
But it got worse. On No. 18 he went right into the pine straw and missed a 5-foot bogey putt. He settled for double bogey and finished with a 73 and 3-over for the tournament.
Johnson missed the cut for the fourth time in his last six majors.
"This golf course, it's a pretty tough finish," Johnson said. "If you drive it in the fairway it's not tough. You miss the fairway, it's difficult."
Also missing the cut: Sergio Garcia (72-74), Phil Mickelson (75-74) and Cam Smith (71-78).
Returning for the weekend with DeChambeau: Tyrrell Hatton, tied for fifth at 2-under; Patrick Reed, tied for 12th at 3-under; Bubba Watson, tied for 22nd at 1-under; and three players who made the cut on the number, Jon Rahm, Joaquin Niemann and Charl Schwartzel.
Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
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