As they say, that's that.
It's never a great feeling to miss a cut, more so when it is in your backyard and an event that is close to one's heart.
I would have to say that they were two of the coldest days I have had in a professional event. Some may say that I should be right at home with the cold, coming from Dunedin, but I only practise in it, and it's only like that in the winter.
But the weather was not, and should not have been, the problem when it came down to my poor result.
Yesterday's round at The Hills was not much better than Thursday's, but as a cruel joke by the golfing god (old Tom Morris) I finished with two birdies to wrap up my week with a round of 75.
As I write this, the sun has come out and the wind has dropped off to a nice level.
There is no better place in the world to be when the sky is clear. The mountain range is spectacular; small in scale compared with others in the world but just as impressive.
It is a strange feeling to be sitting in the media tent at the New Zealand Open writing this.
It is still fresh in my mind, sitting there with the trophy in 2003, and being asked what it meant to win my national championship. Oh well, I'll just have to wait another 12 months.
Let's just hope it's a Kiwi doing that come tomorrow.
No pressure.
It was great to see my New Zealand picks up there in Steve Alker and Josh Geary.
Josh's 65 in the cold wind of yesterday morning was a great round.
Some may ask how players cope when we have the weekend off - in other words, when we've missed the cut.
Well, for me it was down to the Heineken tent, not too far away in the mainstreet here at The Hills, for a cold one with an old golfing friend who braved the cold morning air to follow me around and catch up on the old times.
Then it is back to the real life that is family life.
Some may see professional golf as a great life but for a high percentage of players it is like any other job day in and day out. But 90-odd players every week miss the cut and we go unpaid.
In what other job do you turn up Monday to Friday, work all day and not get paid?Yes, there is of course the flipside when things go well.
The weekend is shaping up to be another fight to the end. It is open to anyone, and with the weather looking good for the weekend, it should be a great Sunday.
Whoever it is that holds aloft the trophy will be a welcome champion. As long as it is a Kiwi.
Just kidding! - Mahel Pearce.
