2024-07-19 21:13:45
golf
Despite some issues, Sepp Straka confidently made the cut at the British Open at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. The Austrian No. 1 was unable to repeat his strong start (70) with a 74 on Friday, but entered the weekend with a score of 144 (2-over par) in 18th place. The Olympic starter is now in close contact with the top 10. Leading the half was his Ryder Cup colleague Sean Lowry.
After two strong rounds (66 and 69), the Irishman’s total score was 135 (7-under). Brits Justin Rose and Daniel Brown, who took the unexpected lead following the first day, are close behind, two shots behind each.
How difficult the conditions were on Scotland’s west coast, with just ten players having half of their matches below par. A score of 148 (6-over) was good enough to make the cut.
There is room for improvement in putting
Straka kept his composure and played long stretches of solid golf on Friday. However, on the sixth hole, the 31-year-old hit his ball into a deep bunker. The result was a double bogey. The two-time PGA Championship winner also suffered hitting errors on the seventh and 15th holes. Last year’s runner-up had his only birdie on the final hole.
“I played very well on the back nine. Unfortunately I didn’t putt very well today. Hopefully I can make a few more putts this weekend,” Straka said in an interview with professional portal Golfpost.de . This meant the Viennese lost out on top, but far less than feared as the game also gave up a lot.
Many stars were eliminated
Many stars failed to make the cut. U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau (USA/151), Ludvig Aberg (Sweden/151), Viktor Hovland (NOR/ 152), Rory McIlroy (NIR/153) and world number five Wyndham Clark (USA/158) had no chance of finishing.
American veteran Tiger Woods (156) also had to pack his golf bag early and then declare the season over. “I fought hard all day but never got close enough to make birdie,” said the 48-year-old, who is playing in all four majors this year for the first time since 2019. However, the 15-time Grand Slam champion only made the cut at the Masters.
Masters champion Scotty Scheffler (USA) was fourth, five strokes behind Lowry, despite his caddy repeatedly lying on the grass with a stomach ailment. Olympic champion Xander Schauffele (USA) is ranked seventh, and defending champion Brian Harman (USA) is two strokes behind Straka in 38th.
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