Tai 'fares really well' despite missing cut

Hiroshi Tai was not among the golfers teeing off in the third round of the US Open in Pinehurst on June 15 after an early exit, but Singapore national coach Murray Smit praised the 22-year-old for a creditable showing in his maiden Major outing.

- Kimberly Kwek

Tai, who is the first Singaporean to feature at the event, missed the cut by four strokes after shooting a four-over 74 in the second round of the tournament.

He was among 11 golfers who finished the US$21.5 million (S$29.1 million) event with a nine-over 149 total after 36 holes at Pinehurst No.

2. He placed joint-109th, with only the top 60 and ties advancing to the third and fourth rounds.

Pointing out the challenging course, Smit said: "To be honest I think he fared really well. He will naturally be disappointed to have not made the cut, but he beat a lot of past Major winners and world class players on a brutally difficult golf course." Only 15 in a field of 156 players went under par in the opening two rounds of the tournament. Sweden's Ludvig Aberg currently stands atop the leaderboard after posting one-under 69 in the second round for a five-under 135 total after 36 holes.