Remember when major championships felt somewhat predictable? Well, those days seem over after this weekend. If you stepped away from your screen for even a moment at Quail Hollow, you probably missed another golf superstar packing their bags. The scene feels unlike anything we’ve witnessed in recent majors. There’s a sense of genuine disbelief circulating in the fairways. The players themselves look stunned by what’s unfolding. Fans with weekend tickets expecting to see their favorite stars now face a leaderboard that feels surprisingly unfamiliar. Here are five shocking developments you might have missed from Friday’s dramatic cut.

1. Historic elite player exodus

The carnage at Quail Hollow reached unprecedented levels among golf’s elite ranks. Six of top 10 players failed to make the weekend at the PGA Championship. Only Scottie Scheffler (T-5) managed to stay in contention from the top 5 ranked players. Rory McIlroy (T-62) and Xander Schauffele (T-62) barely made the cut, while Colin Morikawa finished at T-48.

The exodus is even more startling at the bottom half of the top 10. Justin Thomas, Åberg, Matsuyama, Henley, Straka, and Lowry all missed the cut entirely. This marks possibly the most talent-depleted weekend at a major championship in recent memory.

Only three players from the top 25 world rankings remain within five shots of the lead. These include Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau, and Bob MacIntyre. The 1-over cut line eliminated a who’s who of golf superstars, creating what might be one of the most unexpected leaderboards in recent major history.

2. Legendary streaks snapped

The second round saw multiple impressive major championship streaks come to an abrupt end. Hideki Matsuyama’s remarkable run of 19 consecutive made cuts at majors, which dated back to the 2019 Open Championship, was halted. Matsuyama finished at 3-over par, missing the cut by two shots. His frustration was evident afterward.

Even more shocking was Brooks Koepka missing his first-ever PGA Championship cut. Koepka had successfully made the weekend in all 12 previous appearances. The three-time PGA Champion shot rounds of 76 and 75 to finish at a dismal 9-over par. This continues his concerning major championship form, adding to growing questions about the former dominant player’s trajectory.

3. Curse of Quail Hollow’s former champions

Justin Thomas, who famously claimed his first PGA Championship title at Quail Hollow in 2017, experienced a stunning reversal of fortune. Despite entering the tournament in exceptional form, Thomas imploded with rounds of 73-72. He missed the cut by two shots. This outcome was particularly shocking considering his recent success.

Thomas had won the RBC Heritage and finished runner-up at the Truist Championship in his two previous starts. This marked his second consecutive missed cut at a major in 2025. Such inconsistency is baffling for a player of his caliber. Thomas was one over with five holes to play but made three consecutive bogeys on holes 5, 6, and 7, effectively ending his championship defense.

4. Phil Mickelson’s historic bunker meltdown

One of the most unexpected moments came when short-game wizard Phil Mickelson recorded the first quadruple bogey of his entire PGA Championship career. This happened on his 2,117th hole played in the tournament. Mickelson’s shocking collapse occurred at the par-4 12th hole during Friday’s second round. The six-time major champion needed four attempts to escape a greenside bunker.

The catastrophic “snowman” on his scorecard effectively ended his tournament. This happened despite making seven birdies during his second round in a valiant comeback attempt. The 53-year-old had been cooking before the disaster, making birdies at seven, eight, nine, and the 11th hole in a spirited charge toward the cut line.

5. Mudball controversy skews the playing field

Persistent rain earlier in the week created unprecedented chaos for even the steadiest players. Mud adhesion on golf balls disproportionately affected players’ strategies throughout the first two rounds. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler publicly criticized the PGA of America for not implementing preferred lies. “It’s kind of stupid to hit good shots and get penalized for them,” Scheffler stated bluntly.

The rule controversy reached a dramatic peak when Rory McIlroy’s drive on the 18th hole veered wildly left. Mud on his ball altered its flight, nearly costing him the cut. Statistical analysis revealed a bizarre reversal of typical major championship dynamics. Players landing in fairways suffered more disruptions than those in the rough. Detailed data showed that 63% of players who found fairways encountered mud-related issues compared to only 41% in the rough.

With Vegas surprisingly leading the tournament at 8-under par, the weekend promises more unexpected twists. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler remains in striking distance at 5-under. Xander Schauffele narrowly made the cut, extending his Tour-leading streak to 64 consecutive made cuts. The carnage at Quail Hollow serves as a stark reminder. Even in an era of increasing predictability among golf’s elite, major championships still have a unique ability to humble the game’s greatest players when they least expect it.

What are your thoughts on these shocking developments? Let us know in the comments below!