ORLANDO —Padraig Harrington spends most of his time on the PGA Tour Champions these days, but it doesn’t mean he no longer appreciates what it takes to make the 36-hole cut.
Harrington made birdie on five of his first 14 holes on Friday to shoot 2-under 70 and make his 219th career cut on the PGA Tour.
“Playing the cutline is one of the toughest things in golf,” Harrington said. “Fifty-four holes, no cut, that’s an easy life.”
The 51-year-old is among the 72 golfers to survive difficult, windy conditions at Bay Hill Club and Lodge to play the weekend at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. It took a 36-hole total of 2-over 146 to be among the pros to be paid on Sunday. (Amateur Ludvig Aberg also made the cut.)
Finally made a cut at Bay Hill… Golf course is playing like a major. Bring on the weekend ☘️💪🏻
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) March 3, 2023
Play was suspended due to darkness on Friday with two golfers still on the course. PGA club pro Greg Koch, who teaches at the nearby Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, held the fate of six golfers in his hands. Needing to complete the ninth hole on Saturday morning, Koch could have moved the cut to 1-over had he made birdie but he and Justin Suh (-2) made pars to wrap up the second round at 7:08 a.m. ET. It’s Koch’s first made cut on Tour.
What a moment for @RC_ORLANDO teaching pro Greg Koch in the @APinv. Had to wait overnight to finish his final hole of the second round. Got up and down for par to make the cut for the first time in a @PGATOUR event. Look what it means. pic.twitter.com/K8Ag1sHEj7
— Adam Shadoff FOX 35 (@FOX35Adam) March 4, 2023
With the announcement this week of no-cut, reduced field designated events beginning next season, this likely was the final 36-hole cut at Bay Hill and three players in the top 20 in the world didn’t make it. But Alex Noren took care of business on his final hole.
Needing a birdie on 18 to have a chance to make the cut, Alex Noren comes up clutch 🔥
He finishes +2 overall and is likely to make the cut on the number @APInv. pic.twitter.com/0K0tZN1lk1
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 3, 2023
Here’s the lowdown on some of the players who weren’t so lucky.
Collin Morikawa of the United States plays his shot from the 12th tee during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 02, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty…
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