Round 2 Winners and Losers at the Masters: Tiger Woods’s Record, Zach Johnson’s ‘F-Bomb’ and More

A long Friday at the Masters is in the books, and the weekend roster is set. Here’s a breakdown.

Apr 12, 2024; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Max Homa lines up his putt on the sixth green during the second / Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Network

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Day 2 of the 2024 Masters is in the books, and there are winners and losers on both sides of the cut line. We call ’em like we see ’em around here. They are:

Winners

Tiger Woods: He set records years ago with greatness, and now he’s setting them with guts. Twenty-four consecutive cuts made at the Masters, especially with what it takes for him to get ready to play (including 23 holes Friday) is admirable.

Golf fans: After Thursday’s opening round was delayed because of storms, sunny skies greeted Augusta National’s patrons. Yes, it was windy. But the players battled and this weekend’s Masters could be a shootout if the winds calm down. And Woods, who is at 1 over par, will be around for the weekend. Does it get any better? 

Max Homa: After a 5-under 67 in the opening round, Homa recorded a solid 1-under 71 under challenging conditions. And let’s not forget playing in a group with Woods isn’t easy with large galleries. But Homa didn’t succumb to the pressure, and now enters the weekend with a chance to win his first major championship.

LIV Golf: Eight of the 13 regulars from the Saudi-backed circuit made the cut and Bryson DeChambeau is tied for the lead. For those who still keep score in the pro game by how the LIV’ers play (one patron comes to mind), this week has to be considered a win so far.

Neal Shipley: An amateur is onto the weekend, as the Ohio State graduate student shot 71-76 and is T30 at 3 over. We don’t know who will win the green jacket yet but we know who will win the Masters’ Silver Cup.

Losers

Jordan Spieth: After the first round resumed early Friday morning, he made a quadruple-bogey nine on No. 15, becoming the only player in the past 20 years with multiple scores of nine or worse on 15. Spieth also made a quad on 15 in the 2017 Masters. At least Spieth didn't come close to Sergio Garcia’s record of 13 on the hole in ’18. The 2015 Masters champion missed the cut after rounds of 79 and 74.

Zach Johnson: The captain of the losing U.S. Ryder Cup team in 2023 let loose with some frustration during the second round of the Masters. After putting for triple bogey at No. 12, Johnson told spectators to “F--- off” and then threw his ball into the water. The 2007 Masters champion finished off his second round with a 75 and missed the cut by two, then tried to explain himself in a post-round interview. 

Justin Thomas: The 2022 PGA Championship winner–who hasn’t won since–had three doubles and a bogey in his last four holes Friday for a trunk-slamming 7 over finish, missing the cut by one. Brutal.

Pace of Play: The final couple groups in the 89-player field just got in before dark in a day that began at 8 a.m. and did not have any delays. Yes, it was a windy day full of indecision and high scores, but where’s the line between difficult and slow?