Golf Wales Open and Memorial Tournament It is a good thing for Colin Montgomerie that his Surrey home is only a 90-minute drive from Celtic Manor, because he was able to go home and wait to find out whether he had done enough to make the halfway cut in the Wales Open. Then he learned that he did not need to return.
Although he made birdie at the long closing hole of the 7,355-yard course, he really needed the 50-foot eagle attempt to drop. That would have ensured his presence for the weekend.
But as the later finishers continued to play steady golf, Montgomerie's level-par 36-hole total of 144 proved to be one too many.
He had not missed a cut on this side of the Atlantic in 15 months, a run of 24 events, but at least he was spared another return journey to Wales, for he had raced home on Thursday to get a heavier putter which he felt was required on the slow, grainy greens of the Wentworth Hills layout.
"It worked a little better but they still didn't go in," he said.
The most positive thing to come out of his first appearance in this tournament was that he felt it had done his confidence no harm, even if he did play only two rounds.
"I hit 16 greens yesterday and the same again today. Nothing wrong with that at all," he said. "I'm striking the ball well enough. Unfortunately I haven't holed the putts. The guys who have are nine and 10 under."
Heading the leaderboard is Ian Poulter, the spiky-haired 27-year-old from Milton Keynes who has added a few red streaks to his coiffure to celebrate his beloved Arsenal's FA Cup success.
Poulter compiled a round of 67 with four birdies on the front nine and another at the last to open a two-shot edge on Phillip Price. "And I had bags of other chances," he said.
It was a poor day overall for the Irish. Graeme McDowell finished best on two under after a scrappy 72. Peter Lawrie (75) and Gary Murphy (74) nearly ruined all their good work of the first day but managed to survive on the cut mark. But Paul McGinley, despite a 70, and Philip Walton (75) and Damien McGrane (79) have the weekend free.
Guardian Service
