Tiger Woods will likely miss the cut at The Open after shooting a 1-under 70 in the second round at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland on Friday.
Woods appeared to recover from a disastrous first round on Thursday — he labored to a 7-over 78 — but bogeys on the final two holes left him at 6-over for the tournament.
Stamina and physical health were questioned in Woods’ media session after his first two rounds. While he said there is no specific injury, Woods confessed he’s beaten down emotionally by his physical limitations.
“There were some physical issues — it was more frustrating than anything else,” Woods said. “This is me not playing well. Not scoring well. I don’t have the flexibility I once had. … There are times it’s going to be there, times it won’t.
“There’s been a lot of travel lately. I just want to go home.”
Phil Mickelson finished 8 over and is also likely heading home. It would be the first time Woods and Mickelson both missed the cut in a major tournament started by both.
The cut line was hovering around 2-over par, but had shifted to 1-over as the morning wave finished the second round.
Woods entered the second round 12 shots off the lead, but birdied two of the first six holes to pick up momentum.
A bogey on the par-5 No. 7 interrupted his strong start, though he quickly got back on track with birdies on Nos. 10 and 11.
After a string of pars, Woods followed up a bogey on No. 17 with another on No. 18 as his chances faded away.
The highest opening round by a champion of The Open since World War II was a 75 by Gary Player in 1959.
Woods began the week ranked No. 5 in the world, and could have climbed as high as No. 2 with a victory.
–Field Level Media
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