Tee time trouble leaves Donald on verge of missing cut

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland, July 20 (Reuters) British Open prospect Luke Donald has to sweat on the cut-off mark after an unlucky break on the sixth hole -- before he even hit the ball -- cost the Briton a triple-bogey.

Donald's five-over 76 leaves him on 146, four-over, the predicted qualification mark but he would have had no worries over weekend play if it had not been for an unfortunate slip by his amateur playing-partner which disturbed him on the tee.

The world number nine explained to reporters: ''I heard a club drop in a bag during my downswing, which was unfortunate, and pulled it out of bounds. I made a quick eight.

''It was a struggle from there.

''It was the amateur player, Llewellyn Matthews. Those things happen. It was not on purpose, obviously. Sometimes clubs don't go all the way down, then they slip down. This was just bad timing.'' Donald did not inform his young playing-partner of his indiscretion. He has suffered the wrath of world No 6 Vijay Singh in the past for making noise on the tee, however, he told reporters.

''Vijay once told me off for undoing my glove. He's got very sensitive ears. I apologised but then did it again three holes later.'' Donald, who also ran up a double-bogey six on the third, looked as though he would recover from the blow as he picked up three birdies in four holes from the 11th but then suffered another double-bogey when his ball landed in a bush on the 15th.

If Donald did not make the weekend it would continue his poor results in the major.

He missed the cut five years in succession from his 1999 debut, the last time the British Open was at Carnoustie, and his only finishes have been tied 52nd in 2005 and tied 35th last year.

Reuters BJR KP1910