Golf-Woods misses cut after game implodes (Reuters)
April 30, 2010
* Tiger Woods misses cut
* Mickleson charges up leaderboard
(Updates with Woods missing cut)
Julian Linden
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, April 30 (Reuters) – Tiger Woods,his game imploding with every wayward shot, missed the cut foronly the sixth time as a professional on Friday after a woefulsecond round of 79 at the Quail Hollow championship.
The world number one cut a forlorn figure as he trudged offthe course after limping to the halfway stage at nine-over-par,eight shots off the projected cut-off following his openinground of 74.
As Woods struggled, many of his main rivals, including U.S.Masters champion Phil Mickelson, ripped up the course on aperfect spring day.
American Billy Mayfair shot 68 to lead at eight-under, oneahead of Argentina’s Angel Cabrera and two ahead of Mickelson,but their performances were completely overshadowed by thealmost-unimaginable showing by Woods.
It was the first time Woods had missed the cut at any eventsince last year’s British Open and the first on home soil sincethe 2006 U.S. Open but it was the manner of his early exit thatwas most alarming.
Playing only his second event since taking a five-monthbreak from the game following revelations about his infidelity,Woods at times looked like at weekend hacker as his gameunravelled on the back nine.
There were already some worrying signs as he went throughthe first nine holes in even par with three birdies cancelledout by three bogeys but few could have expected what was tounfold.
He bogeyed the 10th, 11th and 12th holes to suddenly dropback to five-over-par. He stopped the bleeding with a par at the13th before making a double-bogey at the 14th when he pitchedover the green and into the water.
Worse was to come at the next hole when he four-putted foranother double bogey. He closed with three pars to avoidshooting an embarrassing 80 but that failed to save him from anearly exit.
Mickelson, who was ill from food poisoning and faded late inhis opening round, looked a picture of health as he shot afour-under-par 68 to be suddenly feeling upbeat about hischances.
“I should be 100 percent for the weekend,” he declared.
“I thought I was going to get a few more on the front. Butfour under? I would say I’m in good position for the weekend.”
With a handful of players still to finish their rounds, hewas tied for third with J.P. Hayes, who fired a courserecord-equalling 64, and Dustin Johnson, who shot a 65.
(Editing by Pritha Sarkar; To query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com) (julian.linden@thomsonreuters.com; +1 646-552-9780. ReutersMessaging: julian.linden.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net; For thesports blog Left Field go to: blogs.reuters.com/sport/))
Please click on the newslink:
[GOLF-LEN] for more golf stories
[SPO-LEN] for more sports stories
Tee it up with Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Golf 10
