Golfers Lahiri, Jeev miss halfway cut at US Open
Oakmont (Pennsylvania), June 19 (IANS) Indian golfers Anirban Lahiri and Jeev Milkha Singh failed to make the halfway cut in the 116th US Open, the year’s second Major here.
The cut was set at six-over on Saturday and Lahiri scored three-over 73 and 78 in the first two rounds to get a total of 11-over 151.
Veteran Jeev thoroughly struggled at the Oakmont Country Club and came out with rounds of 76 and 79 for a 36-hole tally of 15-over 155.
Both the Indians had to play both the rounds in a day as hevy rain interrupted the opening day.
Lahiri had failed to make the weekend cut in the 2015 US Open as well.
Among some big names who failed to make the cut in this U.S. Open were world No.3 Rory McIlroy with 8-over, No.17 Phil Mickelson with 7-over and No.5 Rickie Fowler with 11-over.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s Shane Lowry held a two-stroke lead with a total of five-under till the 14 holes of the third and penultimate round. The world No.41 got 68 and 70 in the first two rounds respectively.
Two strokes behind the Irishman was Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour rookie Andrew Landry, who played 13 holes till play was called off.
Twenty-five of the 67 players who made the cut still had holes remaining when darkness halted play for the day.
Behind Landry, nine golfers are within six strokes of the lead, a group that includes world No.1 Jason Day, who shot a four-under 66 to move from a tie 45th to a share of eighth at one-over 211. Day and 2015 British Open Championship winner Zach Johnson (1 over through 53 holes) are the only golfers in the top 11 with a Major title in their portfolio.
Dustin Johnson, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia — three players with a plethora of Major-championship heartbreak in their past — are three shots back with as many as five holes remaining in their third rounds.
Defending champion Jordan Spieth of the United States completed the third round at the tied 29th spot on four-over 214.