Golf European Tour: Colin Montgomerie missed a second-successive cut when he crashed to a second-round 74 in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth, Western Australia.
Needing an eagle on the par-five last at The Vines to be sure of making it through to the weekend, the eight-time European number one charged his 40-foot attempt six feet past the hole and then missed the return.
Last week, Montgomerie made an early exit from the Dubai Desert Classic in the week that a divorce settlement reported to be £15 million (€22 million) was agreed with his ex-wife Eimear.
The last time the 42-year-old missed two cuts in a row was two years ago, either side of his heroics at the Ryder Cup in Detroit. The first of those came at the German Masters in the week his wife was granted a divorce.
Two-under-par overnight in Australia, Montgomerie improved to four-under, but then had double bogeys on the 11th and 14th. He did birdie the 16th and 17th, but even though a third in succession might have squeezed him into the final round, he went for the eagle and was never on line with the one back.
He was not the only big-name casualty. South African Retief Goosen missed his first European Tour cut since 2003, also finishing on level par, while New Zealander Michael Campbell bowed out at halfway for the first time since winning the US Open last June.
"It's a strange start to the season, but I'm not too stressed about it," a disappointed Campbell said after rounds of 72 and 74.
"Obviously it's a little hiccup in the whole preparation for the year; I'm disappointed I'm not playing the weekend."
Ireland's three representatives also failed to make the cut: Damien McGrane improved five shots on his opening round to shoot a 69, but it was not enough, while Peter Lawrie (72) and Gary Murphy (73) were way off the pace.
Leader at 13 under was South Korean KJ Choi after rounds of 65 and 66. He finished the day two ahead of American Kevin Stadler, son of former Masters champion Craig.
"I've been feeling good with my putter and I haven't missed many shots," Choi said.
"I've been able to put up two really good scores and hope to continue."
Adam Scott, joint first-round leader with Stadler, slipped back to joint third with fellow Australian Richard Green on nine under, while English rookie Ross Fisher and Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter are a stroke further back.
Poulter is also looking to move into the world's top 64 for the Accenture World Matchplay in a fortnight, the event in which he reached the semi-finals last year.
"I'm very happy with my game," said the world number 67 after a round of eight birdies and two bogeys. "I'm missing a few short putts, but that's golf. You're not going to hole them all the time.
"I'm playing so good and I don't want to give up chances. It's frustrating I'm giving shots back, and when you win golf tournaments you don't give shots back.
"I should be leading the tournament. If I play (this weekend) like I've played for the first two days I will give someone a run for their money all the way."
