Tiger bows out of another Major as howling winds disrupt Open
TIGER Woods missed back-toback cuts at major tournaments for the first time in his career at the British Open yesterday.
In the latest blow to his flagging fortunes, the game’s former dominant force, mired in the worst slump of his pro career, carded a 75 in a weatherhit second round that spread over two days.
That, combined with the 76 he shot on Thursday, saw him miss the cut by a wide margin, but he at least did manage to play at the weekend, as the second round was spread over two days due to a rain delay.
Yesterday it was gusting winds that held up his departure for home, having finished on Friday with six holes to play.
The players finally got back out again in the evening and Woods needed a near-miracle to improve from the dire situation he found himself in at five over par for the tournament.
He never looked like pulling that off as he took bogeys at 14 and 15 to slip further back.
Woods waved weakly to the crowd as he trudged off the 18th green in front of the St Andrews club house that witnessed two of his greatest triumphs — in 2000 and 2005. The former world number one missed the cut at last month’s US Open at Chambers Bay near Seattle after rounds of 80 and 76.
He tied for 17th in the Masters in April, but also missed the cut in the final major of last year, the PGA Championship.
His last and only missed cut in 19 previous British Opens came at Turnberry in 2009.
He won the tournament three times — in 2000, 2005 and 2006, part of his haul of 14 major titles, the second best of all time behind the 18 of Jack Nicklaus.
His last win in a Grand Slam event came over seven years ago at the US Open. His last win in a British Open was at Hoylake at 2006.
This year he clocked up an 85 at The Memorial, his worst-ever score on the PGA Tour.
His tie for 17th at the Masters gave him some respite, but the two missed cuts at the Opens are a blow which will raise even more questions over whether, five months shy of his 40th birthday, he is a spent force.
There remains the final major of the season, the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, next month, for him to salvage something from the wreckage of a year, which also saw him split up with long-time girlfriend, champion skier Lindsey Vonn, in May.
The Open will finish on a Monday for just the second time in its 144-year history after a day when the players’ fury with the organisers threatened to drown out the howling gales.
Brooks Koepka played the role of chief mutineer, refusing to putt after the Open had sent the pros on to the Old Course despite winds making balls blow around on the greens like marbles in a bathtub. Jordan Spieth was another who remonstrated with officials.
The world No 2, who is trying to become the first player in more than 60 years to win the first three majors of the season, was heard saying “we should never have started” when play was suspended at 7.32am.
“I don’t have a problem if it’s breezy,” said Koepka, “but when it gets out of control like that it’s not fair. The official in our group told me it was only me that was having the problem, but I don’t really care about everyone else; it’s the most exposed part of the golf course and the ball is not staying on the green. I’m mad we started in the first place.” — AFP and © The Sunday Telegraph, London
I don’t have a problem if it’s breezy, but when it gets out of control like that it’s not fair