Ryder Cup trio survive cut

The highest halfway cut on the European tour this year enabled Ryder Cup trio Paul McGinley, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter to survive by the skin of their teeth today.

The three all finished the Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters second round on the seven over par mark of 153, 11 strokes behind leader Brian Davis.

McGinley was four over with a hole to play, but, like Colin Montgomerie in the first round, ran up a triple bogey seven on the ninth.

It gave the Dubliner a 79 – only one fewer than team-mate Paul Casey, who bowed out on nine over.

Westwood and Poulter shot 75 and 76 respectively, while their playing partner Montgomerie, three under after 17 holes yesterday, also had a 75 and is now three over.

Darren Clarke is just one better than that, but David Howell, the other member of last September’s team taking part, is in joint second place.

Lynn managed only a 77 while, after an 84, Mason did not even survive the cut - at seven over par the highest of the European Tour year so far.

As for the other four members of last year’s cup side, Montgomerie’s 75 dropped him to three over and Lee Westwood (75), Ian Poulter (76) and Paul McGinley (79) survived right on the limit.

Brad Kennedy holed-in-one at the eighth but, whereas Julien van Hauwe won a car for an ace last week, the Australian had to settle for a bottle of champagne as he crashed out.

And still nobody has had a bogey-free round in the tournament.

Irish teen sensation Rory McIlroy fell further back to -18, eight over for the day.