It’s a long list of high-profile players who didn’t survive the elements at the 48th Players Championship.
Heading the list was world’s No. 2 Collin Morikawa. Morikawa, one of the best iron players on Tour, had no answer in the wind for the brutal par three 17th and he fashioned rounds of 73-75 — four-over par to head home early.
The early starters on Thursday had to wait until Sunday to finish their second rounds and by day’s end, the cut moved to two-over thanks to Scott Piercy. Piercy was two-under for the tournament heading to the 17th, where he suffered the indignity of a quadruple-bogey seven and went from two-under to two-over, bringing the cut line from one-over par to two-over.
At the 18th, Piercy suffered further embarrassment when he three-putted for bogey to finish three-over and miss the 36-hole cut by a shot.
Morikawa was one of two players from the world’s top five to go home early. He was joined by Patrick Cantlay, who got roughed up in the high winds on Saturday and after opening with 72, soared to 77 and didn’t come close at five-over. Scottie Scheffler nearly joined them with rounds of 70-76 but made the cut on the number thanks to Piercy.
Xander Schauffele made it a total of three from the world’s top 10. The seventh-ranked Schauffele’s second round 78 doomed him to an early departure (seven-over).
Jason Day looked good after his first-round 69 but got eaten-up in the Saturday winds and shot 78.
Former Players champ Adam Scott opened with 78 but couldn’t work his way back and finished four-over. Matt Kuchar, another former winner at TPC Sawgrass, shot 74-73.
Jordan Spieth was flapping in the wind on Saturday. His 79 got him out of town early. Same for Tony Finau (76-75).
Then there was Brooks Koepka. After and even par round of 72, Koepka was bamboozled by the high winds and shot 80 on Saturday. Nine-over for the man who says he will match or pass Tiger Woods’ 15 major championships.
Lee Westwood finished second to Justin Thomas last year but won’t be around for the finale. Westy shot 73-80.
