Pressure Builds as Cut Line Threatens Big Names at Quail Hollow
If you think drama is reserved for the final round, think again: the 2025 PGA Championship has fans glued to every leaderboard update at Quail Hollow as the projected cut line swings between +1 and +2. No one predicted Jhonattan Vegas would take the early lead, especially ahead of more hyped contenders. And yet, the Venezuelan starts the second round with everyone chasing him, including Luke Donald—the only player to avoid a bogey so far, sitting comfortably at 4-under.
But it’s not all sunshine and highlight reels. The projected cut line is causing more anxiety than usual, with several high-profile golfers sweating over their spot in the weekend rounds. Justin Thomas is right on the +1 bubble. Shane Lowry has drifted to +2. Now, all eyes turn to Rory McIlroy, the reigning Masters champion: sitting at +3, he faces the possibility of missing the cut for the first time since 2013. That’s not the headline he wanted. And he’s not alone. Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth both slide in at +4, putting themselves in do-or-die territory. Even further out, Cameron Smith (+6), Phil Mickelson (+8), Justin Rose (+9), and Dustin Johnson (+12) are basically looking at a free weekend off.
Golfers aren’t just battling nerves—they’re also fighting the course, which has been a hot topic itself. Heavy rain left fairways soft and patchy, but tournament officials shut down any talk of preferred lies. That means no cleaning or placing balls in the mud, leading to the dreaded 'mud ball.' Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, both in a marquee group, complained after getting unlucky with their drives. Scheffler is still hanging strong at 2-under, but Schauffele is having to grind harder at 1-over, knowing any mistake could cost him dearly.
Betting Shake-up and Rules Debate Heat Up Quail Hollow
The shifting cut line has also turned the betting world on its head. Oddsmakers trust Scottie Scheffler most, with a jaw-dropping -10000 to make the cut. Jon Rahm’s not far behind with -1800 odds. But the odds get wild fast: Rory McIlroy sits at -250 to make the cut, which feels dicey given his position. Brooks Koepka sits in plus-money territory at +185, and Jordan Spieth is really up against it at +360—hardly encouraging if you’re trying to back a comeback.
Fans may wonder, why does the cut line fluctuate, and how does it compare to other majors? The PGA’s approach is top 70 (plus ties), which is a little more forgiving than the Masters, trimming the weekend to the top 50, and the U.S. Open, which draws the line at the top 60. The Open Championship works the same as the PGA, but still, every tournament has its own suspense when Friday comes.
As the second round heats up at Quail Hollow, everyone’s talking about more than just the scores—debate around the no-preferred-lies policy keeps getting louder, especially after more players fall victim to errant shots stuck in mud. Some say it’s part of the challenge; others think it’s unnecessary punishment, and that's fueling more debate than ever.
So while Jhonattan Vegas quietly leads and Luke Donald keeps his card clean, the real story might be who survives the cut. McIlroy, Koepka, Spieth, and so many others now tee off under massive pressure, knowing every shot could be the difference between a weekend run or an early exit home.