15 July 2011 14:58
GMT
Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell is one of a large number of big names who are likely to miss the cut at the end of the second round of the 140th Open Championship.
The 2010 US Open champion added a seven over par 77 to his opening 68 and is all but certain to miss the cut on five over par 145.
The 31 year-old from Portrush will be joined on the sidelines by Brand Snedeker(145), Robert Karlsson (146), Bernhard Langer (148), Sandy Lyle (149) and Matt Kuchar (151). A host of other top stars are also waiting anxiously to confirm their fate, including Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood, JB Holmes and Ben Crane, all of whom finished their second rounds on four over par 144 and were below the cut line at 3.45 this afternoon.
McDowell was a disappointed man as he talked to reporters at the end of the second round.
“It seems to be a bad habit I’m getting into,” he said.
“I couldn’t really put my finger on anything that was really bad today. I just drove it average, hit my irons average, everything was average. My attitude has been pretty average the last two days as well. I just do not have a lot of belief in myself at the moment. It’s just a bit of a confidence issue. I just can’t seem to string four rounds together and this week I couldn’t even string two together.”
“I was frustrated today,” he added. “Frustrated and disappointed. I guess those are the two words that are creeping into my game at the moment. I don’t have any patience in myself. Maybe I’m expecting a bit to much of myself.”