Cut runs deep for Irish at Sawgrass

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON will not be tempted to play a practice round at Augusta National despite missing the halfway cut for a first time in the Players Championship in Florida.

Harrington recorded a second round of 73 to end day two with a two over par tally and two strokes shy of the expected level par cut off mark.

Joining Harrington on the sidelines over the weekend is Paul McGinley, who ended with a six over par tally whilst Darren Clarke made the cut to his earlier score of 73.

It is the first occasion in six Sawgrass appearances that Harrington has been cut from the event where he was runner-up in both 2003 and 2004.

“I have struggled a bit with a cold but that’s no excuse though you never like to miss a cut,” he said.

“I wasn’t aware this was the first time I missed the cut here, so such is life it was going to happen one day.”

For a second day running, Harrington commenced his round with a bogey and on this occasion staring at an awful lie on the edge of the fairway leaving him no option but the hack the ball back to the fairway.

His second travelled just a dozen yards from where he found the green with his third and two-putted for bogey.

But Harrington was in more trouble at the fourth when he put his second shot into a rear greenside bunker where his ball plugged. He then horribly flew the green with his next before hitting his fourth shot to 10 feet but two- putting for double bogey.

There was finally some joy when he holed a 10-footer for birdie at the seventh before he managed to get back to one over par with birdies at 11 and 12 where he rolled in a six-footer.

But Harrington then dropped a shot at the 13th where moments earlier American Justin Leonard holed out for an ace.

Harrington’s tee shot had fallen 35-yards short from where he pitched and two putted for bogey before then bogeying 15 and managing a fourth birdie of his round at the 16th.

Harrington will compete in next week’s BellSouth Classic in Atlanta but ruled out the thought now of sneaking in a practice round at Augusta National.

“No I won’t be going to Augusta and instead I will stay here over the weekend and practice,” he said.

“The facilities are good here and whilst I’m quite happy with the way I’m swinging it, I’d like to be reading the greens a lot better. I’m putting a lot of doubt in my mind and that’s why I’m not holing the putts.

“Today, I just didn’t hole anything of any real length and I could do with being a lot more positive with my putting and chipping.

Clarke, who started from the 10th tee, managed five birdies in his round including back-to-back efforts at 16 and 17.

“I played really well and a 70 is comfortably the worst score I could possibly have shot,” said Clarke.

“I just putted horrific and missed everything apart from holing putts at the third from 15 foot and then 25-feet at the 17th It was a real bad day with the putter and there is no excuse this week as the greens are pure.

“I was pleased with the way I drove the ball and to do that around here is a bonus, and whilst you don’t always want to miss a cut in any event, this is such a big, big event and I didn’t want to miss here.

“I was four over after 12 holes on Thursday so I have done alright to get it back.”

McGinley was never in the hunt after starting with a 77 and struggled to make just one birdie, at the par four, sixth hole in his second round of 73.

McGinley complained again after his round of a mystery bout of fatigue and indicated he intends undertaking a blood test early next week to establish the source of the concern.

He will remain in the States, travelling to West Palm Beach before venturing to Augusta.

Former European Ryder Cup Captain, Bernhard Langer, who started with a 67, crashed from leading the event at eight under par after seven holes.

He then proceeded to bogey seven of his next 10 holes to end with a score of 75 for a two under par tally.