PONTE VEDRA BEACH | Even in near-perfect weather, The Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass doesn’t lose its killer instinct.
As always, the 2025 edition claimed big names in its first two rounds.
Past Players Championship winners, major champions and top-20 players in the World Golf Rankings were among those making the early return trip home after Friday’s second round at the PGA Tour’s traditional flagship event.
Justin Thomas survived in record-tying fashion with a 10-under 62, but others weren’t so fortunate. With the projected cut line at 1-under following the second round’s suspension due to darkness, here’s a look at some of the big names who aren’t sticking around for the weekend on the First Coast.
Ludvig Åberg
Ludvig Åberg hits out of the rough on nine during the first round of the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.
Ranked fifth in the world, new First Coast resident Åberg spiraled out of the field with a 71-75 to slip to 2 over.
Wyndham Clark
The U.S. Open winner two years ago, the eighth-ranked Clark withdrew midway through the second round while already 4 over.
Matt Fitzpatrick
The English golfer placed first in the U.S. Open in 2022 but couldn’t solve the Stadium Course, shooting 78-72.
Brian Harman
Tied for second in the dramatic finish last spring, the former British Open champion started with a 73 and did not recover Friday, shooting a 77.
Viktor Hovland
Viktor Hovland, bottom center, walks down the 16th fairway during the first round of The Players Championship.
The Norwegian’s hopes turned sour quickly with an opening-round 80. A second-round 68 couldn’t overcome that. He had tied for ninth here in 2022 and tied for third in 2023.
Hideki Matsuyama
The past Masters champion from Japan, who shot a 63 that was nullified due to COVID-19 in 2020, wasn’t able to overcome a first-round 74. Ranked No. 6 in the world, he finished at even-par 144.
Maverick McNealy
After a 72 in the first round, the RSM Classic winner plummeted down the leaderboard Friday with an 81, finishing 9 over.
Justin Rose
Winner of the U.S. Open in 2013, Rose shot 71-73 to finish at even par, missing out by one stroke.
Adam Scott
Adam Scott hits from the rough on fifteen during the second round of the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl. Friday March 14, 2025. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Scott won at the Stadium Course in 2004 but shot 74-72 to miss out on the weekend at 2 over.
Gary Woodland
Winner of the U.S. Open in 2019, the hard-hitting Woodland shot an opening-round 78 and never came close to the cut line. His 12-over mark for the tournament tied for last place.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Players Championship 2025: Who missed the second-round cut?
