Sometimes, good golf isn’t good enough to make the cut on the PGA Tour.
Take this week’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship. There were two players who didn’t complete the second round on Friday due to play being suspended for darkness (delaying the inevitable for many), but it looked as if shooting two rounds totaling 5-under 137 at Port Royal in Southampton, Bermuda, only got pros an attaboy and thanks for coming. In other words, there will be no paycheck for their work.
Indeed, it took a minimum of 6 under to know you’d have weekend plans. As the old tagline goes, these guys are good.
Of those who survived the 36-hole cut, none may be happier than Scott Gutschewski, who is making his final start on a major-medical extension. The 46-year-old journeyman pro shot 1-under 70 to improve to 7-under 135 to keep alive his hopes of retaining his card. He needs to earn 131 FedEx Cup points with a solo fourth or better to move to the top of the major medical category or a two-way tie for 38th or better to continue playing in the Nos. 126-150 category; should he not reach either of these goals, he will lose his membership.
The round of the day to make the cut belonged to 18-year-old amateur Caleb Surratt, who birdied his final three holes to post a second-round 64 and make the cut in his Tour debut.
Here are some notables who weren’t so fortunate.
Butterfield Bermuda: Leaderboard | Photos