Paul McGinley will not forget the dreaded par three 17th at Sawgrass in a hurry, it cost the Dubliner a weekend place in the Players’ Championship.
The 35-year-old was in sparkling form on the front nine to reach the turn in four-under 32, eradicating the deficit of yesterday’s opening 75. However, things took a turn for the worse on the on the back nine with bogeys at the 10th and 11th.
A birdie at the 16th was the perfect tonic before stepping onto the 17th tee, but it was there, like so many others, McGinley faltered. He hit the ball over the treacherous island green into the water and walked off with a double-bogey.
At two-over McGinley was on the cut mark, but perhaps still seething from the previous hole, the Ryder Cup player bogeyed the last and missed the cut by one.
Padraig Harrington safely made the cut and is just four shots off the pace on two-under after a turbulent level par 72. Harrington carded five birdies but with as many bogeys, the 30-year-old could not make any progress on the windy Florida course.
"A 72 was not too bad considering. I was quite scrappy," said Harrington. "I'm only four shots back and I certainly feel I left a few shots out there."
The long-time leader during the rain delays, Carl Paulson, was joined by fellow American Jeff Sluman on six-under. Both players carded 69’s, identical scores to their first rounds.
Darren Clarke ended a bad week with a round of 73. The Tyrone golfer finished down the field on five-over 149.
The defending champion Tiger Woods lurks dangerously on one-under following today’s 72.