HOUSTON — Although there wasn’t a top-10 member of the Official World Golf Ranking on hand for the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Houston Open, a number of prominent players were in the field as the tournament made its second appearance at the revamped Memorial Park Golf Course.
Unfortunately for patrons, many of the recognizable names struggled and were forced out after the second round of action, which wrapped up Saturday morning. Instead, the improbable duo of Martin Trainer and Kevin Tway were the leaders at the tournament’s midpoint, while others were sent packing.
Here’s a look at some of the players who weren’t around for the final two rounds of action, and what happened along the way.
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Shane Lowry tees off the 7th hole during the first round of the Houston Open golf tournament. Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Suffice to say Lowry isn’t a huge fan of the back nine at Memorial Park. After posting a double on the 18th hole to close Thursday’s opening round, Lowry started on the back on Friday and proceeded to post two doubles — this time on Nos. 13 and 17.
He nearly fought his way back, using a birdie on his second-to-last hole to get within a stroke of the line, but missed the green on No. 9 and finished at 2 over.
Ian Poulter reacts to his putt on the 7th green during the first round of the Houston Open golf tournament. Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
After missing the cut at the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba, Poulter wasn’t horrible in Houston, he simply didn’t make enough putts to stay afloat.
Poulter, who won this event in 2018 when it was held at the Golf Club of Houston, finished with identical rounds of 71 and missed the number by one.
Jason Dufner plays his shot during the first round of the Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course on November 11, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
After a bogey-free opening round, Dufner tanked in the second round, posting an unattractive 40 on the back nine (where he started) and limping home to a 76.
It marked the second straight missed cut for the five-time PGA Tour champ after he did the same at Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Tony Finau prepares to putt on the seventh green during the first round of the Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course on Nov. 11, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The highest-ranked player in the field this week, Finau was another of the players who fell victim to the back nine at Memorial Park, where he shot a collective 5 over for the two rounds.
The margin for Tour players is so small — Finau hadn’t missed the cut in two previous starts, but finished T-45 in each. In this event, a single stroke would have helped get Finau to the weekend, where he would have been in a position to do as well or better.
Jim Herman (left) and Cam Davis walk the 7th green during the first round of the Houston Open golf tournament. Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Last year, Davis was near the top of the leaderboard after the first round in Houston, but then imploded on the weekend, shooting 77 and 75.
This time around he was again better in the opening round, finishing with an even 70 before falling apart over the final nine holes in the second — posting bogey on four of the nine.
Brooks Koepka plays his shot from the 14th tee during the second round of the Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course on November 12, 2021, in Houston. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
So much for having the inside knowledge on the revamped Memorial Park after playing the role of advisor to Tom Doak during the redesign. Last year, Koepka barely made the cut after an opening-round 72, but then finally found his rhythm and closed with a pair of 65s to pull into sixth. This time around, Koepka needed only to stay afloat on his final nine, but instead finished with a 3-over 38 to drop below the cutline.
Tyrrell Hatton of England lines up a putt on the sixth hole during the second round of the Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course on November 12, 2021, in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Ah, the old adage you can’t win a golf tournament in the opening round but you can lose it should be tweaked to the opening nine holes for Hatton this week.
Hatton posted a pair of bogeys and a pair of doubles in his first nine holes on Thursday, and although he cleaned it up from there — going 1 under over the next 27 holes — the damage was done.
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