Donald and Karlsson cut it fine at Congressional U.S. Open

British number one Luke Donald and Swede Robert Karlsson mightily relieved made the cut at the U.S. Open with no room to spare on Saturday that five former champions failed to progress.

Twenty-one players were still on the course when play was halted in fading light, on Friday and when they finished on an overcast Saturday morning at the Congress, the cut fell at four over the normal 146 .

Donald English it is right on the number after shooting scores of 74 and 72, and Karlsson who has rebounded from an opening 79 with a six-birdie 67.

However the former winners Ernie Els (1994 and 1997), Jim Furyk (2003), Michael Campbell (2005), Geoff Ogilvy (2006) and Angel Cabrera (2007) all failed.

"I struggled on the back nine two days and amounts to not hitting enough fairways and greens do not hit enough," Donald told reporters. "I hit 50 percent of fairways this week and you will always fight on a course like this.

"I have to find something on the weekend and take one or two good rounds and see what happens. Rory (McIlroy) was well ahead, but you continue to fight and see what you can do. "

Donald McIlroy British colleagues dragged by a distant 15 shots, 22 years Northern Ireland has led Congress to its knees with scintillating scores of 65 and 66 for a total U.S. Open record in 11-131.