FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Sixty players — the lowest number possible — made the 36-hole cut for the U.S. Open on Saturday, with 11 players just one stroke away from being able to play the final two rounds at Bethpage Black.
Peter Tomasulo, who missed the cut at Torrey Pines last year in his first Open by two strokes, was among those who missed this year by one.
Tomasulo shot a 3-over-par 73 in the first round and lost three more strokes to par in the second round before a run of four consecutive birdies starting at No. 1, his 10th hole of the day, had him at 2-over. However, the 27-year-old, who has made the cut in three of 14 PGA Tour events this year, bogeyed three of his last five holes to drop to 5-over.
Nathan Tyler, a second-year pro playing in his first Open, was in the final group on the course and needed a birdie on the par-4 18th to make the cut. He drove the ball in the fairway but pulled his second shot into high, heavy grass near a greenside bunker. He didn’t advance the ball with his first swing, knocked it into the bunker with his second and then holed out from the sand for a bogey 5, missing the cut by two strokes.
There were plenty of big names heading home, too, including former major champions Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, David Toms, Justin Leonard and Michael Campbell.
Westwood contending again.
Lee Westwood was third in last year’s Open, his third top-10 finish in nine appearances.
One of the players stuck with the label of “best not to have won a major,” Westwood started this Open inauspiciously with a 2-over 72, then jumped into a tie for seventh after 36 holes with a 66.
Westwood had six birdies, including three in a row to start the second round, and two bogeys to move into contention.
“I’ve always wanted to win a major, but you can only do what you think is the right thing. I can only do what I think is the right thing for Lee Westwood to win one of those,” he said. “I’ve been doing that, and last year gave me a good chance — came up one shot out of the playoff, but gave me a lot of confidence.”
Double dip.
Ricky Barnes, the leader after 36 holes, is trying to become the 12th golfer to win U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur titles, a list that includes some of the sport’s greatest names.
Bobby Jones won four Opens — all as an amateur — and five Amateurs. Jack Nicklaus won four Opens and two Amateurs. Tiger Woods won three Amateurs to go with his three Opens. Others who have the career double include Francis Ouimet, Arnold Palmer, Gene Littler and Jerry Pate.
