Jordan Misses Open Cut

September 15, 1999 / 10:19 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Even Michael Jordan couldn't come back from this big of a deficit.

The former Chicago Bulls superstar shot a 10 over par 81 Thursday in the second round of the Chicago Open, and missed the cut at the 54-hole event by 15 shots.

Jordan, who shot an opening round 84, arrived at the course less than an hour before his scheduled tee time Thursday and appeared relaxed. He talked with fans and leisurely smoked a cigar while hitting balls at the driving range.

Jordan and playing partners Michael O'Connell and Dave Ryan teed off in front of a gallery of about 100 spectators, nearly half of them children.

It didn't take long for Jordan's trademark smile to fade once his round began. He started his second round on No. 10 and recorded pars on his first four holes. But he hooked his drive into trees on the par-4 14th, and eventually two-putted for a bogey.

Jordan made par on the 15th, but sliced his drive into the woods on the par-4 16th hole, drawing a chuckle from one fan.

"Oh, was that funny?" Jordan said jokingly to the chuckler.

He hit a tree with his second shot, punched his third shot into a bunker, blasted out and two-putted for a double bogey. Errant drives led to bogeys on 17 and 18, and Jordan made the turn at 5 over.

He then bogeyed the first three holes on the back nine, missing a two-foot par putt on No. 3.

Jordan found a fairway bunker with his drive on No. 4 but knocked his next shot to the front fringe. As he waited his turn to putt, he talked with six of his younger followers.

"Skipping school today?" Jordan said with mock seriousness. "I'm telling on all you guys."

He made par at the fourth hole and as he teed off on No. 5, a group of children peering through a wooden fence behind the tee began yelling at Jordan to get his attention. His face once again broke into a smile.

"Can you all tell who's who in this group?" Jordan said, drawing laughter from his gallery.

He made par at Nos. 5 and 6, but hooked another drive on No. 7, which led to a bogey. He made par No. 8 but muffed a chip shot on No. 9 for another bogey and a back-nine 41.

"My score was a little better, but I putted worse today than I did yesterday," said Jordan, who entered the $150,000 tournament as an amateur. "I was hitting the ball well enough to break 80 but I didn't putt well enough to break 80."

Jordan said he will play competitive golf again, despite his disappointing showing this week.

"It was a learning experience," he said. "I look forward to hopefully getting the chance to do it again. I'll know what to expect, which is part of the battle, too."