Masters Notebook: Snedeker misses cut

Brandt Snedeker couldn't capture the magic he had last year when he was in the final pairing with winner Trevor Immelman.

Snedeker shot 76-74 to finish at 6 over and miss the cut.

"It wasn't meant to be," Snedeker said as he walked back to the clubhouse. "I couldn't get any breaks and I guess I used up all my breaks up last year."

Despite going home early, Snedeker said that a bad two rounds at the Masters isn't the end of the world.

"You can't not be here and have a good time even though I didn't play too well," Snedeker said. "I had a lot of family and friends here, but it just didn't work out for me this time."

There hasn't been a Todd Hamilton sighting on a leaderboard in a long time, but he is in good shape after the second round.

Hamilton, who is playing in the Masters in his final year of a five-year exemption for winning the 2004 British Open, shot 68-70 and is at 6 under.

"On paper, my year has not been that great," said Hamilton, who has played in five previous Masters with his best finish a tie for 39th last year. "Not counting this event, I made two out of nine cuts, but it wasn't to the point where I can lose all hope."

Last year he was 148 th on the FedEx Cup points race and in 2007 was even worse at 207th.

Zach Johnson, the 2007 champion, is headed home early after shooting 70-80. Johnson couldn't get anything going yesterday and it didn't help that he wasn't feeling well.

"My allergies are just kicking my butt right now," Johnson said. "But that's no excuse so I just didn't play well … It was like I was asleep out there."

When asked why he struggled this week he said simply: "I hit it bad and I putted bad."

Hunter Mahan is in one of his bet positions at a major at 3 under. He shot 66 on Thursday and held it together enough to shot a 75 yesterday.

He had a double bogey on three and a triple on 12.

"I can just play golf," Mahan said about being behind by six shots. "I don't think this is a course you get too aggressive on, or you're going to be in trouble."

Mahan's best finish at a major was in the 2007 British Open where he finished tied for sixth.

Padraig Harrington caught a bad break on 15 when he addressed a birdie putt but the ball moved because of a gust of wind. After a lengthy discussion with a rules official Harrington was assessed a one-stroke penalty.

He did roll in the six foot putt for par.

Harrington, the winner of the last two majors, is at 2 under for the tournament heading into today's third round.

Rory Sabbatini, who shot 67 yesterday, is at 4 under and says he is in good position for the weekend.

"It's by far my best start to the Masters event, to any major," Sabbatini said. "It feels pretty darn

good."

Anthony Kim rebounded nicely from a poor first round to shoot 65 yesterday for the best round of the day.

Kim set a tournament record with 11 birdies as he moved into a tie for sixth at 4 under for the tournament.

Kim started yesterday at 3 over par, and said that there was a definite sense of urgency to get going in the right direction.

"I haven't been making 11 birdies in two days; so to make 11 in one day is pretty special," Kim said. "And obviously to do it at Augusta is amazing. Hopefully I can build off that and if I keep the putter hot, I like my chances here."

Larry Mize's run of outstanding play came to an end with a 76 yesterday. However, because he shot 67 on Thursday he made the cut at 1 under.

Mize, 50, double bogeyed the first hole, then birdied the next two, before making four more bogeys.

"I was just a little off balance today," Mize said. "(Thursday) everything was flowing, everything was good. Today, even though I was hitting the ball well, I was just a little off."

Greg Norman, making his first appearance since 2002, shot a 77 and missed the cut by two shots. Norman shot a 70 on Thursday.

On the walk up 18 Norman got a prolonged standing ovation. As he walked off the 18th green he applauded the fans.

Norman said he wasn't feeling sentimental walking up the 18th hole, just disappointed.

"I felt like I did a pretty good job right up until the 13th hole," Norman said about his threesome being warned about slow play.

Norman said he was pleased with his play.

"Absolutely, this is still the best tournament around, and unfortunately I won't be around on the weekend," he said.

Trevor Immelman, the defending champion, was dejected yesterday with his 74 but did make the cut at 1 over.

Immelman says his goal is simple on the weekend, shoot two low scores.

"I'm proud of myself for hanging in there on the back nine," Immelman said. "I hit some beautiful shots and gave myself some nice shots at it."

Immelman is at 1 over for the tournament.