By Simon Evans
AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 6 (Reuters) – South African Trevor
Immelman, the Masters winner four years ago, made three birdies
on the last six holes to narrowly avoid the cut at Augusta
National on Friday but nine former winners of the tournament
failed to survive.
Veterans Bernhard Langer, Larry Mize, Sandy Lyle, Ben
Crenshaw, Ian Woosnam, Craig Stadler and Tom Watson all failed
to make it to the weekend.
“It’s disappointing. It’s very disappointing because I knew
what I had to do and I didn’t do it,” said the 62-year-old
Watson who finished second in the 2009 British Open.
Mize’s appearance came 25 years after his Masters win but
there was no repeat of 1987 when he chipped in to beat Greg
Norman in a playoff.
“I wasn’t as comfortable with my game at times as I would
like to be on the course, but I always love playing this golf
course and coming here,” he said.
Canadian Mike Weir, the 2003 winner, and Spaniard Jose Maria
Olazabal, who triumphed at Augusta in 1994 and 1999 also failed
to progress into round three.
Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, who was given an invitation to the
tournament, will not extend his stay after disappointing rounds
of 76 and 77.
Another Asian disappointment came in the form of South
Korean K.J Choi, who also finished nine over-par.
Continued…
