Els misses cut as Scot Doak leads way at Inverness

(Reuters) – Four-times major winner Ernie Els, who will defend his British Open title at Muirfield next week, missed the cut in the Scottish Open at Inverness on Friday.

The 43-year-old South African made an early exit after carding a 70 for a two-under total of 142.

Former British Open champions Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington and Scottish Open title holder Jeev Milkha Singh of India also missed the cut on 141.

Scot Chris Doak, who has had only one top-10 finish on the European Tour, hit a second successive six-under 66 to take the halfway lead in his local event.

World number eight Phil Mickelson was four strokes off the pace after returning a 70 for 136.

Els sounded almost relieved to leave the Castle Stuart links course.