The reigning Open champion. A 13-time PGA Tour winner. A two-time past champion. The Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course always test the best, and this time the gush of 30 mph Tampa Bay wind snuffed the hopes of a handful of them. Brian Harman, Jordan Spieth, and Sam Burns were three of the bigwigs crashing out of the Valspar Championship on the cut day. 

The cutline was set at even par on an overcast day where Stewart Cink moved up 27 spots to tie for the lead. The 154-man field – expanded to offer more playing time to the rank and files – drew several big names to Tampa Bay. But a number of them had to pack their bags on Friday.

Jordan Spieth

Things are not going well for the 13-time PGA Tour winner. Just a week back, Jordan Spieth missed the cut at THE PLAYERS Championship, after scoring two over in the opening round and even par on the second day. At Tampa Bay, Spieth started with a 2-under 69. But four bogeys and a lone birdie on the cut day meant the 30-year-old could only card 3-over 74.

This is the second time within a year, the three-time Major winner missed two consecutive cuts. Last year, Jordan Spieth missed the cut at the U.S. Open and then at the Genesis Open in August. Interestingly, the Valspar Championship victory kicked off Spieth’s spectacular 2014-15 season that saw him rake in two Majors.

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Sam Burns

A hot favorite to win the Valspar Championship, Burns broke his stellar streak at Tampa Bay in a curious fashion. Four bogeys and a double bogey undid five birdies in the second round. The 27-year-old tied for the 79th spot at 1-over. Burns successfully defended his title two years back. Last year, the Louisana State University product wasn’t too far out of contention, finishing 6th in the leaderboard. 

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Brian Harman 

The reigning Open champion has been in red-hot form – a T12 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a T2 at THE PLAYERS – before coming to Tampa Bay. But at the Copperhead Course, the 37-year-old carded 2-over 144 to crash out on Friday. After going 1-under in the opening round, six bogeys, two of which came at the notorious ‘Snake Pit’ at Copperhead.

Keegan Bradley

Bradley failed to break par in any of his two rounds. The 1-over on Thursday was bettered by an even par on Friday but was clearly short of what was required at the 2024 Valspar Championship. A double bogey on the 16th was preceded by a bogey on the 15th. On the turn, Bradley was just sitting on the cutline till the 5th hole – he started from the back nine – but a late bogey on the par4 7th ended his hopes. 

Tony Finau

Like Bradley, Tony Finau too, failed to break par in any of his two rounds. After going 1-over on Thursday, the six-time PGA Tour winner needed a spectacular second round to climb the leaderboard. However, after saving par on the par 5 1st, Finau picked three consecutive bogeys on the front nine. Two further bogeys on the back nine and a double bogey at the 16th dashed whatever little hopes of resurgence Finau had. 

Aside from them, Min Woo Lee, Sepp Straka, Gary Woodland, and two Ryder Cup captains, Zach Johnson, and Luke Donald missed the cut. Five players are tied for the lead heading to the third round, but none could usurp Kevin Streelman, who held on to his spot despite shooting 1-over on Friday.

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