Sports Notebook
Star-Bulletin staff
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SONY OPEN
Daly among first knocked out by PGA’s new cut rule
It's safe to say that John Daly doesn't like the new PGA Tour cut rule that went into full effect at yesterday's Sony Open in Hawaii. He has 17 other golfers who feel exactly the same way.
Prior to this year's new rule, there would have been nine more pairings playing in today's third round of the first full-field event of the season. The old rule stated that the top 70 and ties played through to the weekend. The new one is a lot more complicated, but it basically boils down to this: The starting field will be reduced to 70 and ties as long as that number doesn't exceed 78 professionals. If it does, then the field will be reduced to the score that includes the number of professionals nearest 70th place, in this case, the top 59 and ties, which is 69 golfers.
Daly and the other 17 golfers who shot even-par 140 will still receive a check and FedExCup points. It will even count as a cut made, but there's no chance to improve over the weekend, which left Daly steamed after he landed on the 140 number.
"I don't think its right that I worked my tail off to make the cut, but don't get to play on the weekend," said Daly, who shot a 2-under 68 yesterday in front of a large following. "It's not right."
What made Daly's predicament even more interesting was he had a chance at eagle at the last hole disrupted inadvertently by Vijay Singh. Singh hit a 5-wood 261 yards onto the 18th. Nice, except that Daly was still on the green, getting ready to putt for his eagle.
"I should've just kicked it back at him," Daly said.
Daly ended up with a birdie, one shot shy of the needed 1-under 139.
Singh said he wasn't going for the green. And he agreed that Daly should've kicked the ball.
"He should've kicked it closer to the hole," Singh said, laughing. "I was aiming for him. He's so big I hardly could miss. Anyway, I was trying to lay up and it came out hot and rolled forever. I just liked to see it go straight. He blew on it or something when it went by. I have to go apologize to the guy."
Daly said he won't hold his breath.
"He won't apologize," the two-time major winner said. Singh birdied also, making the cut at 2-under 138.
Korean connection
As much success as
Kevin Na and
K.J. Choi have had through the years, the two golfers of South Korean descent will tee it up today together for only the second time.
The first time they were paired together was in 2005 at the FBR Open. Joining them in that group was Phil Mickelson, who eventually won the tournament. Na finished second.
That finish was Na's best as a professional. The older Choi has won six times on tour, including twice last year. His best finish in six previous Sony Opens was last year in a tie for fourth. Na has played here twice, missing the cut once and tying for 41st.
Lickliter withdraws
Frank Lickliter was on the lucky 13th hole Thursday when he learned he was about to be the father of twin boys. He withdrew from the tournament, was on his way home, but his significant other couldn't wait.
She gave birth to the twins at 4 a.m. yesterday as he was en route. At the time he withdrew, he was 1 over for his round.
Inside the numbers
There were 69 golfers who landed in the red numbers yesterday and they are the only ones playing in today's third round. They discovered yesterday the par-5 18th was the easiest hole with a scoring average of 4.469. There were four eagles, 74 birdies, 59 pars and six bogeys.
The hardest hole was the par-4 13th with a scoring average of 4.427. There were only seven birdies, 73, pars, 58 bogeys and five double bogeys. The scoring average for all 18 holes was 70.168 after an opening-day total of 69.521.