British Open

Golf: Straka confidently makes the cut despite a drop back

Sepp Straka

(Bild: Associated Press)

Despite a few problems, golf ace Sepp Straka made the cut at the 152nd British Open at Royal Troon GC in Scotland!

Although Austria's number 1 was unable to build on his strong opening round (70) with a 74 on Friday, he made it into the weekend in 18th place with 144 strokes (two over par). The Olympic starter is now within touching distance of the top 10, with his Irish Ryder Cup colleague Shane Lowry leading at the halfway stage.

After two strong rounds (66 and 69), Lowry is on 135 strokes (7 under par). Just how difficult the conditions on the west Scottish coast are is shown by the fact that only ten players are halfway to a score below the course standard. Six over par was enough to make the cut.

Straka also kept his nerve on Friday and played solid golf for long stretches. On the 6th hole, however, the 31-year-old hit the ball into one of the deep pot bunkers. The result was a double bogey. The two-time PGA tournament winner also lost shots on the 7th and 15th holes. Last year's runner-up managed his only birdie on the final hole.

"Hopefully I can hole a few more putts!"
"I fought well on the back nine. Unfortunately, I didn't putt very well today. Hopefully I can hole a few more putts at the weekend," said Straka in an interview with the specialist portal "golfpost.de". Although the Vienna-born golfer lost ground on the leaders, it was much less than he had feared, as the competition also dropped off the pace.

Numerous stars missed the cut. US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau (USA), Ludvig Aberg (SWE), Rory McIlroy (NIR), Viktor Hovland (NOR) and world number five Wyndham Clark (USA) ultimately had no chance. US icon Tiger Woods also had to pack his golf bag early. "I struggled all day, but was never close enough to make birdies," said the 48-year-old, who had competed in all four majors this year for the first time since 2019. He only made the cut at the Masters.

Masters winner Scottie Scheffler was five shots clear of Lowry in fourth place, although his caddy, who was suffering from stomach problems, had to lie down on the grass several times. Olympic champion Xander Schauffele is lurking in 7th place.

Nemecz makes the cut at tournament in California
Lukas Nemecz has made it into the prize money weekend at the four million dollar PGA tournament in Truckee, California. Nemecz was on +14 at the halfway point of the event, which is played in a Stableford format with plus points for stroke gains. His Styrian compatriot Matthias Schwab finished on +12, narrowly missing the cut mark of +13 after a lengthy nail-biter. The US American Mac Meissner was in the lead on +26.