They were on cutting edge

Those at 9 over in for weekend

SOUTHPORT, England - In the end, the putter was slammed in vain. But it did serve as an exclamation point to Ernie Els's frustration. Missing a 6-foot putt as he bogeyed the 18th hole and finished yesterday's second round at 1-under-par 69, the three-time major champion was at 9-over 149 and presumed he was on the way out, a victim of the cut at a British Open for the first time since 1989.

But as the final pairings finished their duties at Royal Birkdale, the cut line moved to 9 over, meaning that 83 players would get into weekend play, including Els for a 17th consecutive summer. (Els did not qualify for the Open in 1990 and 1991.)

Though it had to put him in a better mood, it would be no surprise if Els were still simmering, because his stumbles were baffling. Going out in the worst weather Thursday morning, he played the front nine in 1 over and appeared to be doing well enough to win this championship for a second time. Then it fell apart. Inexplicably so. He came home in 45 for an 80, and followed with a choppy second round that included five bogeys.

Still, the positive news is, Els made the cut, as did some other notables:

The betting favorite, Sergio Garcia, shot 73 and sits tied for 22d at 5 over. Unlike a year ago, however, when he was leading K.J. Choi by two through 36, this year he's six behind the Korean.

Adam Scott had it to 1 over, but stumbled coming home and settled for 74 -144.

Coming back from an opening 79, Phil Mickelson had just one bogey in a round of 68 - 147 to get into a share of 38th.

Playing his first British Open, Anthony Kim shot 74 -146 and is tied for 27th, while leading the field in greens in regulation.

Justin Leonard shook off three bogeys and a double bogey to shoot 70 -147.

The one and only Colin Montgomerie was 7 over through six holes, 10 over for the tournament, but he played the next 12 in 2 under to shoot 75 -148 and make the cut for the first time since 2005.

Davis Love came home with seven straight pars to shoot 74 -149 and make a British Open cut for the first time since 2004.

Englishman Lee Westwood failed to make a birdie, shot 74, and figured he had missed by one, only to discover that the 9 overs made it.

Andres Romero made 10 birdies in the final round of last year's British Open, but just two in 36 this time around. Still, he shot 72 and also made it on the number.

As for those who were on the wrong end of the cut, the list included Stewart Cink, 58-year-old Tom Watson, Mark O'Meara (the last Open Champion at Royal Birkdale), Charles Howell, Brandt Snedeker, Vijay Singh, Geoff Ogilvy, Hunter Mahan, Tim Clark, Boo Weekley, Angel Cabrera , and Rory Sabbatini.

Oh, and John Daly, whose championship was a rousing testament to just how big a mess his golf game has become. After telling the media Tuesday that he was practicing hard and playing better than his scores indicated, the 1995 champion failed to make a birdie over two days, and you'd have a hard time figuring out just where it was that he threw in the towel. He shot 89, finished tied for last at 29-over 169, and he's now missed the cut here three straight years and four in the last five.

Mediate in his glory

Though he fell out of the lead with an incoming 39, the good times continue for Rocco Mediate. One month after stealing most of the spotlight in a stirring US Open performance, the 45-year-old is at it in another Open. Having opened with a 69 to share the first-round lead, Mediate kept it for a good stretch of Round 2, at least until he double-bogeyed the par-4 11th and bogeyed the par-3 14th. Still, with a 73 -142, he's only three off the lead through 36 holes and enjoying it as much as he did Torrey Pines last month. "Love it. Absolutely love it. How can you not? It's the Open. There's nothing else you'd really want to have a challenge with on this golf course," said Mediate. "I want to keep it for a while." . . . On a day when Greg Norman and David Duval appeared rejuvenated, so did Jean Van de Velde. The author of that 1999 British Open debacle at Carnoustie, Van de Velde went off at 6:30 a.m. and shot 71 -144. He did not mind the early start, either. "When I play the Open or other big tournaments, I'd be happy to come down at 6:30 every day if I could keep playing golf for many years to come," said the Frenchman . . . Aussie Peter Fowler recorded the highest score on a hole, a 10 at the par-5 15th . . . Daly wasn't far behind, as he made a 9 at the par-4 13th.

Hunger lacking

Appearing at Royal Birkdale on behalf of the Royal Bank of Scotland, Jack Nicklaus didn't seem surprised that Greg Norman, 53, had played so well through 36 holes. Or that Watson and Tom Lehman, 49, had posted impressive 74s in miserable conditions Thursday. They came along at a time, said Nicklaus, "when you had to gut it out" and only the very best golfers could make money. Now? "Hundreds of guys are making a living at the game," said Nicklaus. "If they don't win, they still walk home with a big check. It doesn't mean the young guys will be out of it. It just makes it appear as though the guys who have had that experience are coming to the top." The three-time British Open champion said he and his colleagues in the 1960s always envisioned and worked toward a system that would allow golfers to make good money. While he's thrilled such a landscape is a reality, Nicklaus wonders if the great comfort is also part of the problem. "I don't think [today's rich system] makes them as tough," he said. "Guys don't have to work [as hard] to make money."