Masters champions Danny Willett and Bubba Watson found some of the old Augusta magic at rain-lashed Troon to make the cut

MASTERS champions Danny Willett and Bubba Watson found some of the old Augusta magic at rain-lashed Troon to make the cut by the skin of their teeth.
Willet looked like slipping to five over par – one to many to be around for the weekend – when he sliced his drive into a bunker at the last and was forced to splash out sideways.

But the reigning Masters champion hit his third to 15 feet and drained a slippery putt to avoid packing his bags early.
Double Augusta winner Watson went in for even more brinkmanship. A wild tee shot at the par three 17th meant he was five over playing the last – but he conjured up a brilliant birdie to claw his way to the safety mark.

There were plenty of big name casualties though, headed by Shane Lowry and Scott Piercy, joint runners-up at last month’s US Open.
Lowry’s gritty second round 71 could not repair the damage of an opening 78, while Piercy – poised for a Ryder Cup debut in September – crashed to a ten over par 81, to finish on 16 over.

But that was still five shots better than 1985 Open champion Sandy Lyle. He finished last of the 154 players who completed the first 36 holes with of 85-78.

Jordan Spieth was left waiting if he would make the weekend after finishing on four over – just inside the projected cut.