MAMARONECK (US), Sept 19: Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are heading home, hot-footing it out of Winged Foot after missing the cut at the US Open.
Defending champion Gary Woodland also will be watching this weekend when his replacement is crowned in the pandemic-delayed tournament outside of New York City. �It�s never easy to not be playing for the championship on a weekend,� said Woods, who with the pandemic-shuffled schedule will have a chance to add to his total of 15 major victories at the Masters in November and again in April.
�The whole goal of entering an event is to win,� he said after following an opening-round 73 with a 77 on Friday to miss the cut four strokes.
�When I don�t give myself an opportunity to do that, it doesn�t feel good.� A total of 62 player reached the weekend after finishing the first 36 holes at 6 over or better. John Pak (+5) wrapped up low amateur honours as the only one to make the cut.
Shane Lowry followed a 76 in the first round with a 70 on Friday, finishing up in the morning and then heading home to hope his score would hold up.
�Look, I�ll have a long afternoon sitting back, watching TV, praying for guys to make bogeys,� he said with half the field yet to play.
�That�s where I�m at now.�
He got his wish and will stay around for the weekend.
Not so lucky was Woods. He missed the cut for the eighth time in his last 15 majors after missing the cut at one just three times in a span from 1996-2014.
�It�s frustrating that I�m not going to be here for the weekend and be able to compete for this great championship,� he said. � AP
