PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Golf’s biggest stars are at The Players Championship this week.
Many of them are heading home after missing the cut.
While the official 36-hole cut won’t come until Saturday morning when the second round will be completed, the following players have no chance of playing two more rounds in the PGA Tour’s flagship event.
Among those saying goodbye were defending champion Rory McIlroy, 2009 Players champion Henrik Stenson, 2015 Players champion Rickie Fowler, 2018 Players champion Webb Simpson, Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele, Tony Finau, Tommy Fleetwood, Patrick Cantlay, Gary Woodland, Ian Poulter and two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson.
Players Championship: Leaderboard | Photos
The projected cut is even par. The top 65 players and ties make the cut.
“I’m looking forward to (getting home),” said McIlroy, who has played four consecutive weeks and seven of the last eight. “I don’t want to say it’s been a long four weeks, but it’s funny. I used to think four weeks in a row was nothing, and then I feel like I’m getting old because by the fourth week I’m like, a little achy, a couple things are hurting, so I’m looking forward to getting home.
“That’s not the reason I didn’t play very well this week, but yeah, it’s felt like a long four weeks.”
Here are some of the game’s biggest names and best players who won’t be playing on the weekend.