Micheluzzi looking ahead after making cut on PGA debut

David Micheluzzi can be forgiven for looking ahead to next week's PGA Championship, even though he still has 36 holes to contend with at the AT&T Byron Nelson Championship.

The 26-year-old Australian hit eight shots more than his opening 65 but still walked off TPC Craig Ranch on Friday with a broad smile, as the most important period of his fledging golf career beckons.

Micheluzzi's 73 left him at four-under 138 and tied 65th.

It was good enough to make the cut on his PGA Tour debut, the perfect morale boost ahead of his first major outing at Oak Hill next week.

"Yeah, I'm playing good. It didn't really reflect it on the last nine holes," Micheluzzi said.

"I feel like I'm playing really solid, just need to fix up the little things, just maybe a bit of stuff under pressure and a bit of wind stuff and taking my time a little bit.

"But I had a look at the course last night at Oak Hill. It looks unbelievable. You've got to keep it on the fairway. That's one of my strengths, but it was terrible today, so I'll work on it. I'm looking forward to next week, and I'm also very looking forward to the weekend."

Micheluzzi, with a world ranking of 361, received an invitation to play in the Championship after dominating the Australasian Tour by winning the WA PGA Championship, TPS Sydney and NSW Open.

He is the reigning Order of Merit champion which also qualifies him for the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool in July and the DP World Tour for 2023-2024.  

But, for now, he's just happy to make the four-under cut in Texas.

"There's a lot of people that are happy with me. I can tell. There was one in my group and a whole lot of people at four under who are very happy with me," he said.

"But I made it very tough on myself. I short-sided myself three times on the back nine there with those three bogeys. I hit good putts, they just didn't drop. One of one; I'll take it. I'm happy."

Micheluzzi's goal was to make the weekend, and with that done and dusted his immediate goal is to remain grounded and consolidate.

"Have the lowest 36 on the weekend. Just try and shoot - don't have to go at everything, but just play good, solid golf," he said.

"I played very solid yesterday (Thursday) for six and kind of had a little stretch there. But I think if I just hit fairways and greens - my putting feels like it's getting better and better each day.

"I think just stay in the present and just do what I do, really."