On the Green

Tying up some loose ends from the first two rounds:

Johnson Wagner, the former Met Section standout who was such an interesting story because he qualified by winning the Shell Houston Open Sunday evening, made the cut. He had a brutal front nine yesterday (40), but bounced back with a clutch 2 under par 34 on the back to finish at 2 over, making the cut with a stroke to spare. He's playing with Ian Woosnam this morning

Among those who missed the cut: Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Rory Sabbatini, Luke Donald.

Among those who slipped on yesterday were, of course, perennial first-round leader Justin Rose, who went from a tie for first to a tie for 29th; and defending champ Zach Johnson, whose 76 in the second round knocked him off the leader board and left him 12 shots behind leader Trevor Immelman. Johnson also is tied for 29th.

You all know that Fred Couples missed the cut by a stroke, ending his Masters streak of consecutive cuts made at 23. that's somewhat interesting, but I'm not sure it was the compelling melodrama that CBS and Couples' old college buddy Jim Nantz made it out to be.

Speaking of CBS, Bobby Clampett's apology for an ethnically insensitive term wasn't perfect. I hate any apology that begins, "If I offended anyone..." Either you're sorry or you're not.
Don't start with an "if."

Bernhard Langer was penalized one stroke Thursday because his ball moved. I figured that was not a good time for me to go up and ask him if he's going to play in the Commerce Bank Championshp.