Colin Montgomerie unsuccessful to qualify for a return to the US Open at Congressional - the course where he was runner-up to Ernie Els in 1997. Hopeful after his seventh place in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth - his first top 10 finish for almost three years - Montgomerie run only a one over par total of 145 at Walton Heath.
But the real drama in the 36-hole event came at 9.15pm and concerned another Scot, Richie Ramsay. Subsequent a fog delay of almost three and a half hours at the start, play did not finish until just after 9pm and on four under par Ramsay was wanted for a play-off with Swede Johan Edfors and Dane Andreas Harto for the last of the 11 spots on offer.
The difficulty was that former US Amateur winner Ramsay had left hours earlier to try to catch a plane to Belfast for the wedding reception of fellow Tour player Gareth Maybin. He fail to spot the flight, but arrived back at the Surrey course just as Edfors beat Harto on the first extra hole.
It's just been a horrific day - an awful, awful day,said the Aberdeen golfer.As I left it was 5.30pm and guys were teeing off the first. I actually feel physically sick - I can't believe they played when it was pitching dark.
Although he was given a set aside spot his chances of playing are slim to zero.Colin Montgomerie, in the interim, will have to be content with a television commentating role rather than a playing one in Washington in two weeks' time.If you don't enter you can't win - I gave it a go,said the Scot after subsequent an opening 72 with a second round 73 played mostly in rain.That's hard work - it was unhappy out there.
Still in with a possibility at level par with two par-fives to come, the 47-year-old, back up from 462nd in the world to 305th with his efforts in the European Tour's flagship event, failed to birdie either the 14th and 16th and in between had one of seven three-putts during the day.
Also out on one over went Ryder Cup star Ross Fisher, but two years after concluding fifth in the US Open he still has a chance of making it. Fisher stands 52nd in the world and the top 50 at the end of next week receive invitation. Victory went to Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts on nine under par by a shot from Ireland's Shane Lowry. England's Robert Rock, Richard Dinwiddie and David Howell also fit. And there was one Scot who had a good day - Stephen Gallacher made it with a stroke to spare.