Ernie Els thought Castle Stuart was the perfect preparation in his bid to defend his British Open title next weekend. But a poor showing on the greens in Inverness meant the South African missed the cut on Friday, leaving him with the weekend off instead.
His premature exit came after a second round score of 70. Putting him at 2-under par and ten strokes behind the current leader Chris Doak.
“I thought I played quite well today but I had no idea on these greens so I am glad I am leaving to get on some other greens,” said Els.
Phil Mickelson is now the only top 25 player left in the competition and will enter the third round on Saturday tied at 13th place. The American is hoping to win his first title on a links course and thinks his game is up to the challenge of Castle Stuart, despite being just outside the top ten.
“I'm in a position where if I get a hot round, I can make up the ground.”
Els will now turn his focus to Muirfield where he’s looking to accomplish his second consecutive British Open Win. But after missing the cut in Inverness does the South African feel ready for the task?
“My game is where I want it to be. It did not quite go my way these last two days and I made a couple of silly errors, soft bogeys, yesterday. It's not the first cut I've missed and it won't be the last.”
