Open champion Els glag to exit Scottish competition

British Open champion Ernie Els today said he was glad to make an early exit from the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, just days before the defence of his title at Muirfield.

Els could only card an opening 72 at Castle Stuart on a day when 117 players broke par and a second round of 70 was not enough to make the halfway cut as the low scoring continued.

“I just did not get the bounces,” Els said. “I thought I played quite well today but I had no idea on these greens so I am glad I am leaving to get on some other greens.

“A missed cut is not great but we have had a great time here. I did not get the run of the course, it felt like it was against me, but I am playing nicely and gave myself a lot of opportunities.

“My game is where I want it to be. It did not quite go my way these last two days and I made a couple of silly errors, soft bogeys, yesterday. It’s not the first cut I’ve missed and it won’t be the last.”

At the other end of the leaderboard, Scotland's Chris Doak had set the clubhouse target on 12 under par after a second consecutive 66 took him one ahead of American Peter Uihlein.

Doak, playing only his second full season on the European Tour at the age of 35, carded five birdies, an eagle and one bogey, while Uihlein also returned a 66 containing a double-bogey seven on his third hole but also eight birdies in his last 12 holes.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson was a shot behind after equalling the lowest round of the week so far with a flawless 64, with Italy’s Francesco Molinari another stroke back following a 66.

“I’m very pleased with the score but still feel like I left a few chances out there,” Stenson said. “I three-putted the 18th for par and the putt on nine was more in the hole than a few that I made but somehow lipped out. That would have been the icing on the cake.

“I’ve just had two weeks off and been busy with other stuff so am still a bit rusty but I have another two rounds to work on it.”