72 players survive the projected cut at the US Open, Luke Donald averts embarrassment
The projected cut at the 111th US Open turned out to be a nasty affair for many of the celebrated golfers of the world when they had to abandon their bid for the coveted title. Placed at lowest 60 scores, plus ties, plus those within 10 strokes
off the lead, some 72 players proceeded to the third round of the second major of the season at Congressional Country Club, Maryland.
The 7,574 Yards Par-71 Blue Course, one of the longest in the event’s history, took its toll on the field where many of the big guns failed to make it through.
Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy had another stellar day on the field where he thrashed or leveled many records of the championship, closing his round with a whopping six-shot lead. He posted a second round score of five-under, 66 to set the standard for the
projected cut, which was later to be enforced at the end of 36 holes.
The entire Top 10 in the Official World Golf Rankings, survived the cut except for world number ten, Paul Casey. The Englishman had another disappointing day at the Blue Course on Friday when tried to fill in for yesterday’s mistakes, but to his despise,
he fell further below the leaderboard to close the day with an aggregate of five-over. Casey had first round score of two-over and second round score of three-over.
Number 20, American Hunter Mahan also failed to make the cut with his five-over. He had posted an opening round of three-over, and while hoping to recover from the slump, he fizzled out under pressure to post a second round score of two-over, 73.
Among the many other notable players who failed to make the cut and will no more be seen driving on the Blue Course on Saturday, included, Rickie Fowler, Stewart Cink, Ben Crane, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Nick Watney, Ian Poulter, Aaron Baddeley, Ernie Els,
Shane Lowry, K.J. choi, Geoff Ogilvy, and Michael Barbosa.
The senior veteran players, who had qualified for the event through sectional qualifying rounds and failed to make the cut, included, Fred Funk, Thomas levet, Sam Saunders, Jim Furyk, Miguel Angel Jimenez, David May, Ben Crane and Trevor Immelman.
World number one Luke Donald averted, at the last moment, what could have been the most embarrassing moment in his career, of not making the halfway cut. Currently tied for 57th on the leaderboard, the Englishman has been fighting the difficult
Blue Course since day one, and having the handicap of shorter drives, he has suffered drastically in the opening rounds.
Donald opened his bid for the title with a three-over, 74 in the first round and again slumped to a three-over, 73, barely carding enough points to survive the cut.
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