Even at whopping 10 over, many big names miss the cut

The 10-over-par score required to play the weekend at Oakmont is the third-highest in relation to par since World War II. Despite that, stars including Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott and Retief Goosen are headed home early.

By Dave Shedloski, PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent

OAKMONT, Pa. -- Fourteen men, including hard-luck U.S. Open contestant Phil Mickelson, no doubt felt a stab of pain from Angel Cabrera's dagger of an iron shot at the ninth hole early Friday evening at Oakmont Country Club.

With one splendid approach that stopped 2 feet from the hole followed by as easy a putt as Oakmont will surrender, Cabrera capped his second-round 71 with a birdie 3 to get in the clubhouse at even par through 36 holes of the 107th Open. By posting 140, the big-hitting Argentine eliminated the 19 players who ended the day at 11-over 151 and were hoping for an opportunity to play two more rounds of golf via the championship's 10-shot rule.

The cut is established at the low 60 scores and ties, plus contestants within 10 shots of the lead, even if they fall outside the top 60, also advance to the final 36 holes.

Cabrera, who began the day 1 under par and one shot behind England's Nick Dougherty, extinguished those flickering hopes, though his was merely the knockout punch. Oakmont supplied lots of knee-weakening jabs, hooks and uppercuts on a grueling day of golf that was as much about saving face as it was saving pars.

"It was hard not to look like a fool out there," Steve Stricker said.

The 10-over-par score required to remain active this weekend was the third-highest in relation to par since World War II, tying the 10-over 154 cut line in 1972 at Pebble Beach Golf Links. It also tied the 10-over-par 150 cut at Bethpage Black in 2002. Sixty-three players cleared that hurdle, with Vijay Singh, No. 7 in the world, and Masters champion Zach Johnson among them. Singh and Johnson hung on with 77 and 76, respectively.

Interestingly, the scoring average Friday was 76.933 or only about three strokes lower than the 36-hole aggregate score. So 10 over was hardly an easy number to achieve.

"You can't expect a break anywhere out there," said two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen, who barely stayed alive after 74 and 150, who made just his third cut in his last nine starts this year.

There were 14 men in the clubhouse when Cabrera tapped in for his birdie, including Mickelson, the four-time runner-up, who never could shake off the rust after his wrist problems and followed a 74 with a 77 despite playing the first six holes in 2 under par. Mickelson, who turns 37 Saturday, saw his U.S. Open cut streak end at 13. Also ending was his streak of 30 cuts in majors. Lefty had departed Oakmont long before Cabrera holed out to end his week.

"I was thinking about my own game, so I wasn't thinking about who was not going to be here on the weekend," Cabrera said. "I'm sorry for all the guys that are left out."

Also in the clubhouse at the time was Mark Harrell of Hazelhurst, Ga., who ended up the low amateur after rounds of 75-76. Former PGA champion Shaun Micheel and Sony Open in Hawaii winner Paul Goydos both watched their second-round 73s go unrewarded.

Five more joined the heartache club later: former British Open champion Justin Leonard (76), Luke Donald (77) and Johan Edfors (76), Zurich Classic of New Orleans champ Nick Watney (76), and last week's Stanford St. Jude Championship winner Woody Austin (77).

Plenty of other prominent names were sent packing, including No. 4 Adam Scott, who after being in contention each of the last two weeks flamed out with 76-82-158. World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play championship victor Henrik Stenson, No. 6 in the world, came in at 155 after a 76. Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen, No. 10 in the world, was shots better at 153, but two over the limit after a 77.

Also exiting were No. 11 Padraig Harrington and No. 12 Sergio Garcia.

And Colin Montgomerie, who shared sympathy pains and second place with Mickelson last year at Winged Foot, never got anything going, faltering with an 82 and 158 total.

For those players left, they have the comfort of knowing they still have a chance to win. The problem is confronting Oakmont for two more rounds.

"Anything's possible," said former British Open champion Ben Curtis. "You put two good rounds together and you?re right there. It can be done."

"We all still have a chance," added Olin Browne, who is only six back after a 75. "The question is who can handle the pressure and stay patient. I was here in 1994. You know how hard it is. You know what's coming. It's like when you know your dad is going to get out the switch that it's going to hurt. You just have to stand up and take it like a man."