John Daly battles to make cut at Spanish Open

John Daly passed the first and most important test on his return to competitive golf after four months on the sidelines when he made the halfway cut yesterday at the Spanish Open at the PGA Catalunya Golf Club, near Girona. In strong winds, the former Open champion dug deep in a level-par round of 72 for a two-under-par total of 142 that left him trailing Thomas Levet, of France, by 11 shots.
"It was brutal out there," Daly said. "There wasn't a hole where you could make up any ground." And while the only flamboyance from the American crowd-favourite came in the guise of another eye-watering shade of trousers - black, yellow and white diamonds - he at least looked as if he meant business on the course. He finished the day two shots inside the cut line and was able to look forward to playing four rounds competitively for the first time since the Hong Kong Open last November.
Levet, meanwhile, was left to reflect on another fine day's play. He made the most of the more benign morning conditions and followed up his first round of 64 with one of 67 to lead Soren Hansen, of Denmark, by two shots and Peter Lawrie, the defending champion from Ireland, by three. In 36 holes, the former Europe Ryder Cup player has picked up 12 birdies and an eagle and has dropped just one shot. That, in anyone's language - and he speaks seven of them - is winning golf.
Lawrie, who claimed his maiden victory at this tournament last year, although not on this course, has been conspicuous by his absence in any of the promotional material produced for the event. He is a player that "likes to go under the radar", but even he has admitted to being a little miffed to have been ignored in such a way. "A little bit of pride does mean I'd have to ask why there isn't a photograph of me in any shape or form," he said. Instead, he let his golf do the talking by following up his first-round 68 with one of 66.
Things were not so rosy for Colin Montgomerie. The Scot, who is planning to play six weeks on the trot, missed the cut after a round of 81, nine over par.
Source:The times