Els escapes as top names miss Birkdale cut

(CNN) -- Ernie Els narrowly avoided missing the weekend cut at the British Open for the first time since his debut in 1989, but the brutal conditions at Royal Birkdale took its tool on several high-profile names.

World No. 5 Els, champion in 2002 and three times a runner-up, pounded the ground in frustration after missing a four-foot putt for par at the final of his second round to be in danger of an early exit.

But he scraped through on nine-over-par 149 despite an opening round of 80 to finish in a group of 15 players tied for 69th place.

Among those who joined the South African in only just qualifying for the weekend were 2005 U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell of New Zealand, Andres Romero and Lee Westwood.

Campbell, who leapt onto the world scene with third place at St Andrews in 1995, followed his opening 75 with a 74 -- scores duplicated by England's Westwood, who had been seeking to build on his third place at the U.S. Open.

Argentina's Romero -- third last year -- improved with a second-round 72.

But former British Open champions Tom Watson, Mark O'Meara, Mark Calcavecchia, Paul Lawrie and John Daly were not so fortunate.

The 58-year-old five-time champion Watson missed out by one shot despite his impressive opening 74 in treacherous conditions on Thursday as the cut was set at its highest level since the mark of 12-over 154 at Carnoustie in 1999.

Scotland's Lawrie, the champion that year, shot 77 and 73 to be level with Watson on 150 along with 16 others including world No. 6 Stewart Cink.

Another American, 1998 champion and two-time third-placer O'Meara, was a further shot back after slumping to a 77.

He was tied for 102nd on 151 along with compatriot and 1989 champion Calcavecchia, 2006 U.S. Open champion and world No. 3 Geoff Ogilvy of Australia and the former top-ranked Vijay Singh.

Fiji's Singh was not able to bounce back from his opening 80 -- unlike world No. 2 Phil Mickelson, who recovered from a 79 with a fine two-under 68 to comfortably make the cut.

Argentina's Angel Cabrera, who won the 2007 U.S. Open, also missed the cut after two rounds of 77. He finished level with European Order of Merit leader Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, who crashed with a second-round 82.

But none fell so far as 1995 British Open champion John Daly, who finished equal last on 169 -- 20 strokes from the cut.

His embarrassing 89 featured a quintuple-bogey nine at the 13th hole and three doubles, while the American also missed an 18-inch putt at the final green.

Daly was level with English qualifier Jamie Howarth, who was making his debut in a major tournament.

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