New Orleans, LA … 

Hot favourites Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson were left surprised after being bundled out of the closing two rounds of the Zurich Classic.

The respective Gold and Silver medal winners from last year’s Rio Olympics, fell one shot shy of contesting all four rounds in the unique team format on the TPC Louisiana course.

Rose and Stenson, and the back bone to Europe’s success in the 2o14 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, managed six birdies in the Fourball format on day two for a combined six-under par 66 and a six-under 36-hole tally.

Shock and surprise as tournament red hot favourites Henrik Stenson and Jusstin Rose miss Zurich Classic cut. Image … www.golfbytourmiss.com

Instead it is another Swede in Jonas Blixt and Australian Cameron Smith, with a combined 62, who enjoy a one one–shot lead in the $US 7.2m event on 15–under par.

The all–American duo of Patrick Reed and Patrick Cantlay, and also combining for a 62, are in second place at 14–underpar and with another USA pairing of Jordan

Spieth and Justin Thomas (66) sharing third place at 12–under par.

Rose, who was returning to competition for a first occasion since losing the Masters in a play–off to Sergio Garcia, was somewhat gob–smacked he and Stenson had been bundled out and in what is his first missed cut on the Tour since last year’s US Open.

“It was surprising, no doubt and Henrik and I were hopeful of much better than that,” he said.

“Speaking to a few of the guys, you really get into the swing of this tournament, you get the rhythm going and you make the putts and then everything feels fun and sort of you’re vibing.

“For us, we kept fighting it, we kept fighting the momentum, and that’s really what killed us, and then it kind of puts the pressure on the birdie putts when you do have them because suddenly they become critical, they’re not just sort of bonuses where you’re rolling forward.

“Yeah, we just got on the wrong side of momentum this week.”