It’s a new day at Merion Golf Club, but the scores are just as high as the second round of the 2013 U.S. Open finishes up and the field is cut in half. The top 60 and ties will get through to the final two rounds, and that current projected cut line includes players at 8-over or better. A line of +8 is the first indicator that Merion has put on a true U.S. Open test, and Saturday morning’s restart presented much of the same conditions keeping Billy Horschel and Phil Mickelson’s lead of 1-under very safe.
2013 U.S. Open cut line: Dustin Johnson likely through, Matteo Manassero heading home
It’s a true U.S. Open test when the cut is made at 8-over.
The delayed cut has created a bit of scheduling indecision for many hovering on the cut line. All the players at 8-over obviously couldn’t pack their bags and get out of town on Friday night, and there are many hanging around and warming up in preparation for a third round that they could have conceivably missed. The 8-over group, such as Brandt Snedeker, should be on the grounds ready to go and awaiting their likely third-round tee times which will be turned around quickly after the second round is complete. So it’s not an ideal Saturday morning situation for the USGA and the players nine shots back of Mickelson and Horschel.
Here’s the complete group of players who appear safe at 8-over:
David Howell
Peter Hedblom
Martin Kaymer
Michael Weaver (a)
Kevin Chappell
Josh Teater
Steven Alker
Alistair Presnell
Morten Orum Madsen
Jim Herman
Dustin Johnson
Brandt Snedeker
John Peterson
Simon Khan
Mike Weir
Nicholas Thompson
Kevin Phelan (a)
Matt Weibring
And here’s the group at 9-over, who can start their trip to the airport:
Justin Hicks
Chris Williams (a)
Michael Thompson
Cliff Kresge
Tim Clark
Peter Hanson
Aaron Baddeley
Rory Sabbatini
Matteo Manassero
Fredrik Jacobson
Doug LaBelle II
Here are some of the bigger names who could comfortably pack their bags on Friday:
Nick Watney -- +10
Zach Johnson -- +11
Lucas Glover -- +11
Graeme McDowell -- +13
Jordan Spieth -- +13
Marc Leishman -- +13
Angel Cabrera -- +15
Darren Clarke -- +15
Jim Furyk -- +16
Jose Maria Olazabal -- +16
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