Stricker’s streak stays alive
Madison star has made cut in 25 straight majors
SOUTHPORT, England - Steve Stricker of Madison, Wis., kept a personal streak alive by making the cut in the British Open, the 25th major championship since 2009 that he has played on the weekend.
Former champions Phil Mickelson and Padraig Harrington weren’t as fortunate, heading home after failing to get inside the cut line of 5 over par.
Harrington came close, barely missing out on holing a chip on the final hole. Mickelson, meanwhile, added a 77 to the 73 he shot in the first round to finish 10 over.
“Unfortunately, it’s the first cut I’ve missed this year,” Mickelson said. “And I missed it with flair.”
Mickelson, with brother Tim on the bag in place of former longtime caddie Jim Mackay, looked as if he might make a run at playing on the weekend when he opened with a birdie on the first hole. But a triple-bogey 7 on the third hole set him back and he made four straight bogeys to open the back nine.
“It’s part of the game,” Mickelson said. “I don’t want to put too much stock in it, because I’ve really been hitting the ball well and playing well. So rather than dwell on two rough days here, I’ll go back home and get ready for these upcoming events.”
The 50-year-old Stricker, who tied for 16th at both the Masters and U.S. Open this year, has never won a major championship. He opened this one with an even-par 70 then added a 72 in blustery conditions Friday.
Garcia loses his cool: Sergio Garcia thought his British Open might be over after hurting his right shoulder while angrily swinging a club into shrubs on the fourth hole.
The Masters champion clutched his shoulder after the incident and took a painkiller on the fifth tee. He spoke with a medical official on the seventh hole and his shoulder still felt sore at the end of his second round.
“Obviously, I’m not happy about it,” Garcia said, “because I almost screwed up my British Open.”
The shoulder problem didn’t affect his power. Garcia drove the green on the 346-yard fifth hole and made eagle, and wound up shooting a 1-under 69 in gusty conditions. He was 2 over for the tournament.
Garcia said he was frustrated after sending his tee shot at the par-3 fourth to the back left of the green near some bushes. He didn’t have a full back swing and could only jab his second shot short of the green.
After taking his shot, Garcia looked behind him and swung his club into the shrubs. He grabbed his shoulder immediately with his left hand and grimaced with pain. He made bogey.
“I hit (the shrubs) backwards, it was a very weak position, and it felt like the muscles went on top of each other,” Garcia said. “So it didn’t feel good at all.
“Sometimes you are out there and you are trying your hardest. When you can’t do it, you get frustrated. We’ve all had this.”
Stenson’s home robbed: Henrik Stenson had more than the wind on his mind when he teed off. The private house where he is staying this week was burglarized.
Stenson learned about the burglary when he finished his opening round.
What they didn’t get was the claret jug. The defending champion gave that back to the R&A on Monday. But he says the thieves took some valuable personal items and all of his clothing.