Some golfers treat Thursday and Friday like warm-ups for the weekend. Others seem to approach the cut line like it’s more of a polite request than a requirement.
Whether it was inconsistency, nerves, or just vibes, these players made missing the cut look like part of the plan. From hyped amateurs to streaky veterans, here are golfers who played like the cut line was totally optional.
14. John Daly
You never knew what you were going to get with Daly, but the odds of him packing it in by Friday were never low. The man treated professional golf like an open mic night.
13. Ian Poulter
He could show up and look like a Ryder Cup hero, or he could be booking an early flight home. Poulter always brought the drama, but not always the scorecard.
12. Anthony Kim
At his peak, he was a sensation, but consistency was never part of the package. AK could shoot 65 one day and 78 the next without blinking.
11. Pat Perez
Perez could bomb it and throw darts—or spiral into a mid-round existential crisis. He was either in contention or out the door by Friday afternoon.
10. Martin Kaymer
He won majors but often couldn’t string four decent rounds together in other events. It was feast or famine, and the famine usually ended by Friday.
9. Jason Dufner
The Duf could look ice-cold or half-asleep, depending on the day. That laid-back energy didn’t always translate to making the weekend.
8. Kevin Stadler
He had some success, but more often than not, Stadler was battling the cut line like it owed him money. Watching him grind for a 73 felt like a weekly tradition.
7. Ty Tryon
Remember the teen phenom who made headlines before he made a tour cut? His pro career turned into one long montage of missed cuts.
6. Boo Weekley
He was fun, folksy, and frequently away by Saturday. Boo had the swing, but not always the staying power.
5. Rickie Fowler
When Rickie’s hot, he’s electric—but when he’s off, it’s a two-day cameo. He’s flirted with greatness just as often as he’s flirted with early exits.
4. Robert Garrigus
Known for bombing drives and blowing up rounds, Garrigus was a walking cut-line coin flip. He’d either go low or go home.
3. Camilo Villegas
At his peak, he was a lean, flashy top-10 machine. But when the putter went cold, so did his chances of sticking around for the weekend.
2. David Duval (Post-2001)
After reaching No. 1 in the world, Duval’s game took a detour into oblivion. The number of missed cuts started to rival his early-career top-10s.
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1. Danny Lee
The king of the Thursday 68/Friday 78 combo, Danny Lee, had all the tools and none of the week-to-week consistency. If the cut line had a frequent flier program, he’d have lifetime status.
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