The Masters: Sergio Garcia tops worst finishes by defending champions at Augusta National

Sergio Garcia missed the cut at the Masters with the highest cumulative score for the opening two rounds as a defending champion.

The Spaniard racked up a damaging 13, after hitting five consecutive balls into the water, on the par-five 15th on Thursday on his way to a nine-over 81, before a second round six-over 78 saw him finish at 15-over and a full 10 shots outside the cut mark.

Garcia, who finished third from bottom in the standings, joins a list of nine other players to have missed out on making the weekend's action as reigning champion, but who else has particularly struggled on their first return to Augusta National?

Consecutive missed cuts at the Masters

It is the first time since 1996 and 1997, when Ben Crenshaw and Nick Faldo missed cuts in consecutive years as defending champions, that it has happened at Augusta National.

Nick Faldo in 1997

The three-time winner followed a first round three-over 75 with a disappointing nine-over 81 - which included a quadruple bogey - to finish well outside the cut mark.

Advertisement

His performance was the start of a loss in form as the Englishman only went on to win one further title in his career at the 1997 Nissan Open, while Tiger Woods burst onto the scene with a supreme display to become the youngest Augusta champion - 12 strokes ahead of runner-up Tom Kite.

Ways to watch the Masters

How to follow the opening men's major of the year on Sky Sports.

Sandy Lyle in 1989

Also See:

Lyle, who had become the first UK winner of the Green Jacket, missed the cut by two strokes after an opening five-over 77 was followed by a 76 to see him finish at seven-over at the halfway stage.

Despite his disappointment, there was reason for optimism for British hopes as Faldo won the first of three major titles and became the second of four consecutive British winners at Augusta.

Masters champions to miss the cut

Jack Nicklaus 1967
Tommy Aaron 1974
Seve Ballesteros 1981 & 1984
Sandy Lyle 1989
Ben Crenshaw 1996
Nick Faldo 1997
Jose Maria Olazabal 2000
Mike Weir 2004
Danny Willett 2017
Sergio Garcia 2018

Seve Ballesteros in 1981

Ballesteros would miss the cut as a Masters defending champion for the first of two occasions - he also failed to make the weekend in 1984.

The then two-time major winner opened with six-over 78 before a four-over 76 saw the Spaniard miss the cut by a full six strokes, as Tom Watson claimed his second Green Jacket by holding off countrymen Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman.

Watch the Masters throughout the week live on Sky Sports Golf. Live coverage continues via the red button on Saturday from 3.15pm.

Play Super 6 for £250k

Could you be the next Super 6 jackpot winner? Enter your predictions for free here.

Outbrain