Turnberry, Scotland - Tiger Woods missed the cut at a golf tournament for the first time in three years Friday, as the world number one struggled badly in the second round of the 138th British Open at Turnberry. While Woods missed the cut by one shot when finishing the day on 5-over par after shooting a 74 on the wet and windy links course in Ayrshire, 59-year-old Tom Watson rolled back the years to share the lead on 5-under with unheralded Steve Marino.
Having arrived in Scotland as strong favourite to win his 15th major golf tournament, Woods will instead miss the cut at a major for only the second time in his career.
The 33-year-old last missed the cut at the 2006 US Open, which followed the death of his father and had previously only missed five in total since turning professional.
He started his second round solidly enough, parring the first six holes before sinking a birdie at the seventh to move on to level par.
However, two bogeys followed and his troubles were compounded on the 10th when an errant tee shot resulted in a double bogey, dropping Woods to 4-over. The American repaired some of the damage with a birdy on 11 but further bogeys at 15 and 16 ended his hopes of competing at the weekend.
"I was playing well the first seven holes, right there in the championship," said Woods.
"I played three holes poorly in the middle of the round."
Meanwhile, five-time Open winner Watson sank monster putts on the 16th and 18th greens to card a 70 for a share of the lead.
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I could win the tournament," said the oldest man in the field. "As luck would have it I'm still there, let's hope luck will stay on my side."
Earlier, American Marino produced a 2-under par score of 68 to take the early clubhouse lead as conditions deteriorated on the Scottish links course.
Marino, who was originally third reserve for the championship and only received a call-up for his first Open on Sunday, built on his 67 to remain in strong contention.
"It was kind of a wild round, I hit some really awful shots in the beginning," said Marino, who carded three bogeys and three birdies on a difficult and wind-challenged outward nine.
The 29-year-old produced a steadier inward nine, only bogeying the 10th while registering a birdy on 14 and an eagle at the par-5 17.
"It was just an awesome day for me," he concluded.
Mark Calcavecchia, winner of the British Open in 1989 at nearby Troon, lies in third spot, one shot adrift of Marino after shooting a 69.
"It's a lot of fun, it feels good," said the 49-year-old. "There's a long way to go but so far, so good."
England's Ross Fisher lies in a five-man group two shots behind Marino, after shooting a 68 in a round that included five birdies and three bogeys.
Also on 3-under is overnight leader Miguel Angel Jimenez, who was unable to replicate his opening round of 64, equalling the lowest first round in Open history.
However, the 45-year-old remains in contention courtesy of a 73 that included four bogeys on the opening six holes.
"There are two more rounds and I have been hitting the ball very well," said Jiminez.
Two-time US Open winner Retief Goosen remains well in the frame on the same score after the South African shot a level-par 70, while Japan's Kenichi Kuboya followed up on his superb 65 Thursday with a 2-over round of 72.
Vijay Singh is also in the mix on 3-over while Lee Westwood, JB Holmes, Mathew Goggin and James Kingston are both a shot further back on 2-under.
Defending champion Padraig Harrington, looking to win a third successive title, at least avoids Woods' fate after finishing on 3- over thanks to a round of 74.
