AUGUSTA, Ga. – Sergio Garcia didn’t make another octuple-bogey Friday, but he still struggled at Augusta National. Garcia shot 78 to set a dubious record in the defense of his emotional victory at last year’s Masters. Garcia’s 78 on Friday gave him a two-day total of 15-over 159, the highest 36-hole score ever shot by a defending champion. His 81 matched the highest score by a defending champion who missed the cut. Nick Faldo also shot 81 in 1997. Garcia’s 13 at the par-5 15th hole, which matched the highest single-hole score in tournament history, sealed his fate. He hit five shots into the pond that fronts the green on the hole nicknamed Firethorn. On Friday, he made six bogeys and a double-bogey. A birdied at the last allowed him to break 160 for the week. He’ll need to find a way to pass the time this weekend as he waits to return to Augusta National to slip the Green Jacket on this year’s champion. This is the 11th time in Masters history that the defending champion missed the cut, and the second consecutive year. Danny Willett missed the cut last year. The cut fell at 5-over 149, the lowest since 2015. Fifty-three of the 87 players who started this week will play on the weekend. The odd number of weekend participants means that an honorary marker will be used in the first tee time. That role is traditionally filled by club member Jeff Knox, who famously beat Rory McIlroy when they were paired in the 2014 Masters. U.S. Amateur runner-up Doug Ghim was the only one of the six amateurs to make the cut. The Texas senior, who made two eagles Thursday, shot 72-76 to clinch low-amateur honors. Among the players to miss the cut by a single shot were past champions Charl Schwartzel, Sandy Lyle and Jose Maria Olazabal. Here’s a look at other notables to miss the cut: — Thomas Pieters (73-78), who finished fourth last year in his Masters debut. — Patrick Cantlay (75-76), winner of this season’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. — Shubhankar Sharma (77-74), who received a special invitation to play this year’s Masters. — Danny Willett (75-76), the 2016 Masters champion. He’s missed the cut in both Masters starts since his win. — Patton Kizzire (76-76), a two-time winner this season. — Joaquin Niemann (76-77), the world’s No. 1 amateur. This is his final tournament as an amateur. — Mark O’Meara (78-81), the 1998 Masters champion. He said this will be his last Masters.
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