Harrington out of US PGA
Aug 14 2010
A closing double-bogey six sent Padraig Harrington crashing out of the final major of the year today - and could have a massive impact on Europe's Ryder Cup team.
With Luke Donald and Justin Rose among those who also missed the cut in the United States PGA Championship at a fog-free Whistling Straits, and with Paul Casey well down the field, captain Colin Montgomerie could be faced with a huge dilemma for his three wild cards in two weeks.
Harrington, winner two years ago, had made a brilliant recovery from his opening 75, but all the hard work was undone when, distracted by a photographer, he hit his second shot into the hazard short of the 18th green. From there he took a penalty drop, pitched 10 feet past the flag and missed the bogey putt.
With a 71 for a two-over aggregate he then waited to learn his fate - and an hour later it was confirmed he was out by a shot.
"It's very disappointing, but it would be silly to think that my last shot is going to cost me my place," said Harrington. Even if he gets a pick, though, it could have cost somebody else their spot.
"The Ryder Cup does come first. I made out my schedule to peak for the four majors and the Ryder Cup, and I'm going to stick with it. If I get picked I want to be ready to play."
With half the field continuing their second rounds at 7am following two days of fog delays, there was the possibility Tiger Woods could be a casualty of the cut as well when he resumed with a bogey on the seventh.
But the world number one came back with birdies at the 10th, 14th and 17th for a 70 and three-under aggregate that left him joint 22nd - five adrift of Matt Kuchar.
Woods, who pulled off a spectacular shot onto the final green from a fairway bunker, said: "I'm not hitting it well here, but I'm putting well and I'm right in the ball game."
Leading Europeans at halfway were 21-year-old Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy and England's Simon Khan in a tie for fifth on five under, while Scot Stephen Gallacher - making a cut in a major for the first time - was one further back after a 69.
