Former Masters Champions Falter at Augusta 2025

News Summary

At the 2025 Masters, past champions struggled with surprising early exits, including Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, who failed to make the cut. Despite promising performances earlier, they faced challenges from chilly winds and tough greens. While disappointment loomed, compensation for their participation offered a silver lining. With a packed competitive schedule ahead, the need for resilience in golf has never been more evident as these champions look to regroup and move forward.

Augusta: The Masters 2025 Sees Former Champions Struggle

The buzz surrounding The Masters at Augusta National was palpable, but not all past champions were able to live up to the hype this year. In a rather surprising turn of events, renowned golfer Phil Mickelson and a few other former champions sadly missed the cut at the 89th Masters. Mickelson, who has previously tasted victory at this illustrious event three times, finished the second round with a score of 5-over-par. The cut line was set at 2-over-par, meaning only 53 players advanced to the weekend rounds.

Former Champions Join Mickelson in Disappointment

Alongside Mickelson, some notable names from past tournaments also found themselves on the wrong side of the cut. Golfers like Angel Cabrera, Sergio Garcia, Jose Maria Olazabal, and Dustin Johnson faced similar frustrations as the tournament progressed. All of them came to Augusta with hopes of adding another green jacket to their collection, yet were left to ponder their unfortunate outcomes as they packed their bags early.

Mickelson’s round was particularly challenging, carding a score of 74. Despite showing potential with two top-ten finishes earlier in the year, the Masters proved to be a different beast. The renowned golfer expressed that he experienced a good challenge, reflecting on his day at the course despite it not going as planned. He acknowledged the chilly winds and the receptive greens that contributed to the overall difficulty of the day.

Looking Ahead

Although he was disappointed with his performance, Mickelson had originally felt confident heading into the Masters. He believed he had a solid chance to secure a good result, hence his surprise at not making the cut. Dustin Johnson, another former champion, echoed similar feelings. Johnson mentioned that he finished the Master’s with a sense of disappointment, as he felt he played better than what his scorecard showed.

Financial Compensation for Hard Work

One silver lining for Mickelson, Johnson, and others who did not advance was the allotted compensation for their participation. Even though they didn’t qualify for the final 36 holes, they each received $25,000 for their appearance at the event. The Masters offers a substantial prize purse this year, totaling $21 million, with the winner set to take home a cool $4.2 million.

This payout has been viewed as a form of recognition for the players’ hard work and dedication, despite not advancing in the tournament. It’s a nice little cushion for the players, even though they likely came to Augusta with intentions of competing for the big prize.

The LIV Golf Transition

An interesting layer to Mickelson’s presence this year was his transition to LIV Golf. Earlier in the week, Jack Nicklaus even weighed in on the potential impact this shift might have on Mickelson’s performance at such a prestigious tournament. Yet, Mickelson has remained committed to participating in events, having played in all venues last year and all four major events this year. While his recent finishes may not reflect his competitive spirit, he has still embraced the challenges that come his way.

Challenges Ahead

As it stands, Mickelson and company will need to regroup after their Masters experience. With a packed schedule ahead and more tournaments on the horizon, there’s plenty of opportunity for redemption. Golf is a game that demands resilience, and while the Masters may not have turned out as they hoped, their journey continues.

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Additional Resources

• The Express: Phil Mickelson Masters Dustin Johnson
• Wikipedia: The Masters
• The Mirror: Phil Mickelson Dustin Johnson
• Google Search: Mickelson Dustin Johnson Masters
• The Express: Phil Mickelson Dustin Johnson Masters LIV
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Golf
• Golf Magic: Legendary Golf Caddie Mocks LIV Golf Stars
• Google News: Masters 2025
• The Mirror: Johnson Mickelson Koepka Masters Cut
• Google Scholar: The Masters 2025