Appropriately, English makes cut at British

HarrisEnglish has seen the peaks and valleys of golf, goingfrom being a two-time winner to falling out of the top 300 in the world, and returning to being a two-time winner this year.

Through it all, he could count on four days at the majors.

English had made the cut in 13 consecutive majors he played, dating to the 2014 PGA Championship, the secondlongest active streak behind Louis Oosthuizen. And it was a streak in serious jeopardy when he opened with a 75 in theBritish Open.

Even with the lowest cut in British Open history (141), English made it to the weekend. He rallied with a 65 on Friday. With a birdie on the final hole, he made it with one tospare.

“I don’t like missing cuts and I especially don’t like missing cuts at the Open,” Englishsaid.

Former Masters champion Patrick Reed wasn’t so fortunate. Neither was Patrick Cantlay,the No. 7 player in the world who has two PGA Tour victories this season but has been largely absent in the majors even when he does make thecut.

Reed (No. 9), Cantlay and Tyrrell Hatton (10) were the only players from the top 30 to miss the 36-hole cut. That list doesn’t include those who aren’t playing, or Will Zalatoris, who opened with a 69 and had to withdraw before the second round with a back injury.

For English, it’s a matter of what he can do for the next 36 holes. He is No. 8 in the Ryder Cup standings, with the top six earning automatic spots. Onespot ahead of him is Reed. One spot behind him is Cantlay. This was a good cut to make.

Temper, temper

For all the questions Jon Rahm gets about his emotions, no other player is developing a reputation for his temper like Tyrrell Hatton of England.

Hewas in fine form Friday. Hatton could be heard on the broadcast swearing after a double bogey on 11th hole. On another hole, television caught him extending his middle finger toward someonein the gallery.

Needing birdie to have any chance of making the cut, Hatton sent his shot right of the green,and then promptly bent the club over his knee until it snapped. He handed both pieces to his caddie. He made par and missed the cut by one shot.

Amateur hour

For the first time since 2015, the British Open will feature a battle to be the low amateur.

Matthias Schmid of Germany, who played his college golf at Louisville, tied the Open record for low score by an amateur with a 65. It was last set at Royal St. George’s in 2011 by Tom Lewis. That moved Schmid to 1-under 139 ina tie for 40th.

Schmid qualified by winning the European Amateur, atitle he now has won twice.

Yuxin Lin of China, who qualified by winning the AsiaPacificAmateur in 2019, made paron his last three holes for a 72 to make the cut on the numberat 1-over 141.

SamLocke at Carnoustie in 2018 was the last amateur to make the cut in the British Open. It was at St. Andrews in 2015 when five amateurs madethe cut.

Big ace

Jonathan Thomson earned a peculiar slice of history Friday — the biggest man to ever make a hole-inone. The Englishman stands at 6-foot-9, and he delivered a superb shot that carried a mount, checked slightly and rolled into the cup.

“It’s just phenomenal, to be honest,” Thomson said. “Like the roar, the shot, everything about that hole, it’s indescribable, really.”

Thomson shot a 67 and was tied for 31st at 2-under 138.