ANOTHER EARLY EXIT FOR SPLUTTERING SPIETH

JORDAN SPIETH tried to put a positive spin on a calamitous fortnight in his home state of Texas yesterday after heading up a stellar cast who missed the cut in the Shell Houston Open. The 23-year-old from Dallas, one of the Masters favourites, said he was still capable of ‘striking fear into players’ at Augusta next week but there wasn’t much sign of it during a horrendous second round 77. ‘Just an off day, I guess,’ he added. Just an off-fortnight, in fact, when placed alongside the failure to make the straight knockout stages in the WGCMatch Play Championship in Austin last week. Spieth will now try to rebuild his confidence by heading to Augusta early as he seeks redemption for spilling a five-shot lead last year with just nine holes to play. Spieth was not alone in getting a private jet early to Georgia as another former Masters champion Adam Scott, world No 5 Henrik Stenson, US Ryder Cup hero Patrick Reed and Englishmen Andy Sullivan and Lee Westwood also bowed out. Phil Mickelson was another struggling to hang around as he closed out his second round late on. Better news concerned Justin Rose, who added a 71 to his opening 67 to be just outside the top ten but a hefty ten shots behind the leader, Korean Sung Kang. He underlined his reputation for low scores with a 63 to set a 36-hole tournament record of 128 shots. It left him clear at halfway and well placed to snatch the final invitation to the Masters that goes to the winner. Meanwhile, at the first women’s major of the season in California, England’s Charley Hull shot a 68 to be just one shot off the lead when the first round of the ANA Inspiration was completed yesterday. The 21-year-old from Kettering then went straight back out for her second round and was looking up at only former world No 1 and Olympic gold medallist Inbee Park after 12 holes.