US Ryder Cup hopefuls Mickelson, DeChambeau miss PGA cut
ST LOUIS: Five- time major winner Phil Mickelson failed in his bid to qualify on points for a 12th consecutive US Ryder Cup team Saturday, missing the cut at the 100th PGA Championship.
The 48-year- old lefthander, a fixture on American Ryder Cup squads since his 1995 debut, fired a one- over par 71 to stand on fourover for 36 holes, four strokes beyond the cut line at Bellerive Country Club.
Also missing the cut were Matt Kuchar, Bryson DeChambeau and Kyle Stanley, contenders just outside the top eight on the points list who will qualify for next month’s showdown against Europe in France after Sunday’s final round.
DeChambeau was n inth on points, one spot ahead of Mickelson, with Kuchar 12th and Stanley 14th.
Mickelson has also made every US Presidents Cup lineup against a non- European Internationals side since 1994 in addition to his Ryder Cup run.
US captain Jim Furyk, who made the cut on the number at level-par, will add four captain’s picks next month to complete his lineup -- the only remaining Ryder Cup path for those who missed the cut.
Tiger Woods, set to be an assistant captain, is expected by many to land one of the coveted picks after his comeback from spinal fusion surgery this season. Woods brief ly led last month’s British Open and moved to fourunder, just six shots off the lead, after completing his second round on Saturday. He ranks 20th on the points list despite missing almost a full season. — AFP