Masters projected cut: Jason Dufner, Graham DeLaet likely going home early

UPDATE: A few notable names are headed home early as Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia fail to make the cut at The Masters.

It’s still early on Friday at the Masters, but the cut line at Augusta is already taking shape and some big names will be packing their bags early. The early afternoon projected cut has settled at 7-over, with all players at 6-over safe to make it through to the weekend.

Last year, the tournament committee at Augusta National increased the cut limits from the top 44 and ties to the top 50 and ties, keeping in place the traditional 10-shot rule that puts through any played within 10 of the leader. The biggest point of cut drama on Friday last year centered around 14-year-old Tianlang Guan, who snuck through by a stroke via the 10-shot rule. It shouldn’t have been so close, but the teenager was penalized a stroke for slow play by grumpy rules official John Paramor, an extremely rare enforcement, especially at the majors.

The cut settled last year at 5-over, with those at 4-over getting to play on the weekend. Augusta played very tough on Thursday, the most difficult in an opening round by scoring average in several years. There are some players out there posting birdies on Friday, so there’s obviously plenty of time for cut line movement both ways.

Jason Dufner is probably the biggest name on the outside, the reigning PGA Champion ruining his shot at back-to-back majors with a quadruple bogey 9 on No. 13 in the first round. Graham DeLaet is another big disappointment. The Canadian was one of the top players in my Masters rookie rankings earlier this week, and is one of the most consistent played on Tour. He’ll be back but that ugly first round was definitely unexpected. If it stays at 7-over, here’s the current group who will be “trunk slammin,” as they say.