The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
PHIL FADES OUT
Mickelson misses first cut of season; Harrington out.
Mickelson among top names to miss the cut after shooting 77,
SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND — Steve Stricker kept a personal streak alive by making the cut in the British Open, the 25th major championship since 2009 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 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 in the second round.
Harrington, who won here the last time the Open was at Royal Birkdale in 2008, couldn’t believe the chip that would have gotten him inside the cut line didn’t go in. He finished with two 73s.
“It looked like it was going in all right,” he said. “The story of my day.”
Among the others headed home from Royal Birkdale early:
■ World No. 13 Justin Thomas (7 over), whose nine on the sixth hole Friday ended his hopes;
■ Former Open champions Darren Clarke (8 over), Tom Lehman (8 over), Stewart Cink (10 over), David Duval (11 over) and John Daly (12 over);
■ U.S. Ryder Cup stars Patrick Reed and Ryan Moore (both 8 over);
■ Emerging American player Bryson DeChambeau (13 over), who earned his first PGA Tour win last week at the John Deere Classic.