Big names such as Daly, Couples fail to make the cut at Mystic Rock
FARMINGTON – The 2005 edition of the 84 Lumber Classic at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa seemed a lot like the 2003 tournament, with second-round scores reaching the double digits and players threatening to dominate the course. And although this year saw some notables miss the cut and rain threats miss the course, the lengthened and dry course still allowed a slew of birdies, resulting in a cut line of even par for weekend play.
Classic Sponsor and local fan favorite John Daly missed the cut for the second time in three years; the streaky people’s champion finished a paltry 3-over par Friday after starting the day one-under.
Daly began his round with a birdie, but then hit a host of trouble on the par-4 second, when he drove the ball far to the right of the fairway and posted an eight.
While he surged up and down throughout the round, Daly never really got back on track and completed the round noticeably disappointed with his performance on what is considered his home course.
Daly finished in the top 10 in 2004 with a strong performance, but also missed the cut in 2003 after having to be taken from the course when he became lightheaded during a terrible second round in the tournament’s first year at Nemacolin.
Daly has again slumped this year after revamping his game in 2004 when he finished 21st on the Tour’s money list. Coming into play Friday, Daly was ranked 65th on the Tour money list.
Another fan favorite, Fred Couples, who has reemerged this season, also fell short of the mark Friday, finishing six strokes off the pace at 6-over par.
The 25-year tour veteran is ranked 30th on the Tour money list with nearly $1.7 million in earnings, his best ranking since 1998, when he finished ninth among the PGA’s best.
Fifth-ranked money leader Jim Furyk also missed just his third cut of the year, finishing two strokes off the pace.
Additionally, notables including David Duval, Ben Curtis, Charles Howell III and 2003 Classic winner J.L. Lewis also did not make the cut.
And possibly the biggest draw to the tournament this year, Phil Mickelson just escaped getting cut from a tournament for the first time in 2005.
“I think I played well, but I didn’t score the best,” Mickelson said after he shot a second-round 71 to break even through two days, just enough to make it to weekend play.
Mickelson has not missed a cut in 19 tournaments this season.
Mickelson, who survived a bad finish to his round, bogeying 17 and 18, said he is impressed with the scoring during the opening rounds of the event.
“When I practiced on the course I thought guys would be lucky to be two or three under par,” Mickelson said.
And in typical Mickelson style, the third-ranked golfer in the world was all over the board Friday, mixing five birdies and four bogies to finish one-under par.
He said one reason for his shaky play was the difficult condition of the course that he said he considers quite challenging.
“The greens are hard and with water in front, they are very difficult to hold,” Mickelson said.
He will tee off Saturday at 9:14 a.m. paired with Marco Dawson.