Twice winner Lee Janzen was suddenly out of the US Open before the third round in Tulsa - for using a towel to wipe the ground in the first round.

Janzen was originally listed with rounds of 75 and 70 for a 36-hole five over par total of 145, one inside the halfway cut.

But he was then given a two-stroke penalty for the incident on the 10th hole of his first round when play resumed after a rain delay.

That would normally mean disqualification for signing for a wrong score, but that was not imposed because the official following the match did not inform him of the rules breach.

The effect was the same, however. When the two shots were added Janzen missed the cut by one rather than made it through.

Janzen used the towel to absorb moisture from the fairway before replacing his ball.

Not being told that that was a penalty left Janzen thinking he was inside the cut limit when he birdied the last hole. In fact, he had no chance of qualifying on the last tee.

He was only told of the penalty at 9.45am today just before he was due to tee off in the third round.

Reed Mackenzie, USGA chairman of rules, said: "Ordinarily, when a player fails to include a penalty and signs for a score lower than should have been recorded, the result is disqualification.

"But since the committeeman observed the violation and failed to notify the player of the penalty, the penalty of disqualification is waived. However, the penalty strokes must still be added to his score."