Nick Taylor finally made a major cut again. Some big names failed to do the same at the Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Nick Taylor finally made the cut in another major. Brooks Koepka missed the weekend at the Masters in agonizing fashion.

Then there was Bernhard Langer and Fred Couples, two former Masters champions, who took their attempts at making the cut all the way to the 18th hole Friday. The 67-year-old Langer missed a par putt that would have gotten him into the weekend, while the 65-year-old Couples made bogey when he needed birdie on the par-4 finishing hole.

They certainly weren't alone in their tournament ending early.

Koepka, a five-time major winner, was in good shape with two to play. He had opened with a 74 but was 2 under on the day when he bogeyed the par-4 17th. Then came the 18th and catastrophe: Koepka was so far left off the tee he took a penalty shot and hit again, then missed the green with his approach and three-putted from 12 feet to miss the cut by two shots.

He had made eight straight cuts in majors, including his second PGA title and a tie for second at the Masters two years ago.

There were other painful moments Friday.

Russell Henley had been one of the hottest players in the game coming into the week, making the cut in each start this season and winning against a loaded field at Bay Hill. He opened with a 79 that put him near the bottom of the leaderboard, but Henley rallied with a second-round 68 on Friday that left him in Langer's group one shot shy of the cut.

“Yesterday just was terrible. It was such a tough day,” Henley said. “There’s a lot to be thankful for. I’m healthy and I feel good and I feel like I can play some good golf this year. No matter what, I feel like I’m in a great spot.”

Dustin Johnson, who set the tournament scoring record when he won in 2021, also finished at 3 over.

“I’m playing better than that I scored for sure," he said. "Played pretty solid all day until last two holes, but you know, this golf course, it's a pretty tough finish. If you drive it in the fairway it’s not tough. You miss the fairway, it’s difficult.”

You can guess where Johnson drove it.

Mike Weir and Sergio Garcia, a pair of former champions, missed the cut with Couples at 4 over. Two more Masters champions, Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson, were in the group with Koepka at 5 over.

“I’ve been playing good golf this year,” Mickelson said, “so I’m disappointed with my score this week.”

Angel Cabrera beat just one other player, shooting 75-80 in his return to the Masters. The 2009 champion generated a bit of controversy simply by showing up. He spent 20 months in an Argentine prison after he was accused of making threats toward former partners. Cabrera was released on parole in August 2023 and won a PGA Tour Champions event last weekend.

The only player Cabrera beat was Nick Dunlap, who was 19 shots better than his first-round 90 with a 1-under 71 on Friday.

Then there were those who managed to slip inside the 2-over cut line.

Xander Schauffele was at 2 under for the tournament, extending his streak to 61 consecutive made cuts. Wyndham Clark was able to rebound from an opening 76 with a 4-under 68 on Friday. Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth made the cut on the number, with the 2015 champion making a two-putt bogey on his final hole to scrape into the weekend.

Taylor also made the weekend at a major — finally.

He has five PGA Tour wins, including one each of the last three years, and his triumph at the Sony Open in January gave the Canadian some momentum early this season. But the majors had given him fits. Taylor had missed the cut in his last eight tries, including the Masters last year. In fact, his last made cut was the Masters five years ago.

“Yeah, it’s never the objective but it certainly has crossed my mind,” Taylor admitted. “It is different, and it’s easy to make it bigger than it is. But each golf shot is the same as you are playing the RBC Heritage next week or Zurich with Adam (Hadwin). You’ve got to make your decisions, commit to them. It’s just a little more difficult here.”

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Nick Dunlap hits from the 11th tee during a practice round at the Masters golf tournament, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Russell Henley walks to the green on the first hole during the second round at the Masters golf tournament, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Phil Mickelson. chips to the green on the 18th hole during the second round at the Masters golf tournament, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Jon Rahm, of Spain, waves after making a putt on the 18th hole during the second round at the Masters golf tournament, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Jordan Spieth waits to play on the 18th hole during the second round at the Masters golf tournament, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Fred Couples chips to the green on the 13th hole during the second round at the Masters golf tournament, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Bernhard Langer, of Germany, waves to the gallery after the second round at the Masters golf tournament, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nick Taylor, of Canada, hits from the bunker on the second hole during the second round at the Masters golf tournament, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers could have outside linebacker T.J. Watt back for their “win or go home” showdown with Baltimore for the AFC North title on Sunday night.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday he's “more optimistic” than he has been that the perennial Pro Bowl edge rusher will be available after sitting out each of the past three games while recovering from surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung sustained following a dry needling treatment.

Tomlin added he'd like to see Watt practice fully at some point this week. Watt was a limited participant last week before being held out of Sunday's 13-6 loss to Cleveland, a setback that cost the Steelers (9-7) a chance to wrap up the division with a week to go.

Now, Pittsburgh either needs to win or tie the Ravens (8-8) on Sunday night to win the AFC North for the first time since 2020.

Tomlin doesn't think Watt's extended downtime will have a significant impact on the 31-year-old Watt's stamina, should he be cleared to play.

“I doubt that TJ is ever out of football shape or conditioning over the course of a 12-month calendar,” Tomlin said. “I just know how he lives his life and how he prepares and how thoughtful he is in terms of what he puts in his body and how we trains.”

While Watt's familiar No. 90 could return, massive tight end Darnell Washington is out indefinitely after having surgery on Monday for a broken arm suffered in the first half against the Browns. Tomlin did not rule out Washington's potential availability should Pittsburgh advance to the playoffs, though the Steelers would likely need to make a deep run to have any chance of seeing the uniquely talented 6-foot-7, 300-plus-pound Washington in the huddle.

Wide receiver Calvin Austin III (hamstring), veteran left guard Isaac Seumalo (triceps), cornerback Brandon Echols (groin) and cornerback James Pierre (calf) — all of whom sat out last week — could return against the Ravens.

The Steelers will need as many healthy bodies available as possible, particularly on offense, to avoid a stunning late collapse. Pittsburgh sputtered in Cleveland without suspended wide receiver DK Metcalf, who will also sit out this week as punishment for making contact with a fan in Detroit earlier this month.

Pittsburgh managed just 160 net yards passing against the Browns, a big chunk of it coming on a last-second drive that ended with Aaron Rodgers throwing incomplete in the end zone to wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on three consecutive plays.

Rodgers had perhaps his best game of the season in Pittsburgh's road win at Baltimore on Dec. 7, thanks in large part to a seven-catch, 148-yard performance from Metcalf. Downfield shots were nowhere to be found on a blustery day in Cleveland, where Rodgers' longest completion was a 29-yarder to tight end Pat Freiermuth.

While Tomlin allowed both teams will add a “wrinkle” or two in the rematch, the reality is scheme is unlikely to play a significant role in a series that has produced its fair share of memorable high-stakes meetings through the years.

The stakes should keep the Steelers from having a hangover after letting the lowly Browns jump to an early 10-point lead before holding on.

Asked if it was frustrating to lose to a team that came in with just three wins on the season with so much on the line, Tomlin shrugged.

“Man, there’s a lot of things that you could get frustrated about in our business,” he said. “I’ve learned to kind of always move forward. My windshield is much bigger than my rearview.”

Maybe, but there's a chance the game could also be the 264th and final regular-season game of quarterback Aaron Rodgers' Hall of Fame-caliber career. The 42-year-old four-time MVP said over the summer that his 21st season could be his last, though he also said last week he feels as if he's aging backward and has been relatively healthy save for a broken left wrist that forced him to sit out a loss to Chicago in late November.

Rodgers said on Sunday that he expects Pittsburgh to recover and beat the Ravens. That inherent confidence is one of the reasons the Steelers spent months courting him in free agency last spring.

“That’s one of the things that made him really attractive to us, that ‘can do’ attitude and the experience and resume that goes with it,” Tomlin said. “I don’t think it’s work for him. I think it is as natural as breathing. And so if he’s breathing, I expect to see that from him as we lean in on this game."

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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)