Despite missing cut, Warriors’ Curry impresses PGA pros
HAYWARD, Calif. — Stephen Curry recorded his second consecutive 4-over 74 Friday to miss the cut against professional golfers one notch below the PGA Tour.
But not before leaving some of golf’s best players impressed that the star of the Golden State Warriors could enter their arena and look respectable.
Curry posted a 36-hole 8-over 148 total on the TPC Stonebrae to fall 11 shots off the cut line at the Web.com Tour’s Ellie Mae Classic. No matter. “That was awesome what he did yesterday,” British Open champion Jordan Spieth said Friday at the Bridgestone Invitational. “I think he certainly beat most everybody’s expectations, but I don’t think that really surprised him. It was pretty cool — really cool — to see.”
Curry bogeyed two of the first three holes on Friday and shot a 39 on a three-hour front nine. He made five straight pars and birdied No. 14 but he played the final three holes at plus-1 with two bogeys and a birdie on 17.
“I think it’s pretty special for a two-time MVP to be able to shoot 74 at a pro event and beat other pros,” said former PGA champion Jason Day.
No one expected very much out of Curry, who last year played in the proam at the PGA Tour’s season opener in Napa.
“I was asked if I thought he was going to break 80, and that’s the hand grenade question,” PGA pro Paul Casey said. “But 4 over is really good. It’s a lot of pressure, and he exceeded my expectations.”