Tiger Woods misses only second major cut as a pro

Tiger Woods of the U.S. reacts on the 18th green after finishing the second round of the British Open Golf Championship at the Turnberry Golf Club in Scotland, July 17, 2009.

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - World number one Tiger Woods struggled to a 74 in Friday's second round at the British Open to miss the cut in a major championship for only the second time as a professional.

The 33-year-old American, hunting a 15th major victory, suffered a torrid run either side of the turn before posting a five-over total of 145, a stroke outside the cut.

A heavy favourite to lift the Claret Jug for a fourth time, Woods was one under for the day for the first seven holes before winds of up to 25-mph (40-kph) blew him off track on Turnberry's Ailsa Course.

He dropped seven strokes in six holes from the eighth but partially recovered with back-to-birdies on 16 and 17 before getting up and down from just off the green to save par at the last.

"I was one under after seven holes and right there in the championship and had a few tough holes in a row and couldn't get it back," Woods told BBC television.

BAD SHOTS

"I hit a couple of bad shots ... it was just problem after problem. If I could have just played those holes well I'd be fine, coming home downwind I could make some birdies coming in.

"I didn't do that, hit some bad tee shots, a couple of bad iron shots, didn't get it up and down and kept making mistake after mistake," added Woods.

"I birdied two of the last four (but) you can't make mistakes and expect to not only make the cut but also try and win a championship."

Woods had a long wait to discover his feat, which was sealed when Ryder Cup team mate Boo Weekley holed out at the last for a 72 and a one-under tally of 139.

The top-70 players and tied qualified for the weekend and Weekley was the 70th man to clinch his place in the third and fourth rounds.

"Is that right, really? I didn't know that, that's part of golf," Weekley told Reuters.

"I didn't know I knocked him out. It wasn't just me, there were 69 other guys in front of him."

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