ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL:NORTHERN IRELAND'S Graeme McDowell endured a nightmare – bogey, quadruple bogey – finish to miss the cut last night after the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Country Club in Florida.
McDowell had one of those frustrating rounds where birdies came freely, but so too did the bogeys.
The 30-year-old picked up three birdies in his opening seven holes – second, sixth and seventh – but dropped shots quickly followed at the eighth and ninth.
The Portrush professional eventually strung four pars together from the 10th before a third bogey at the 14th was followed by another birdie at 16.
That left him on two under, five off the lead, before the disastrous final two holes. After a bogey on the par-three 17th, he took eight shots on the par-four final hole.
Ermie Els formed part of a four-way tie at the top of the leaderboard. Els, who returned to winning ways at the WGC-CA Championship at Blue Monster in Doral a fortnight ago, was joined in a share of the lead by American trio, Davis Love III (71), DJ Trahan (68) and Ben Curtis (67).
Els shot a three under par 69 for his share of the lead on seven under, one shot ahead of the chasing pack that includes Phil Mickelson and Retief Goosen, who both carded 67s.
