Tiger's slump gets worse at PGA

By Brendon Hanley Aug 13, 2011, 0:42 GMT

Atlanta, Georgia - Despite hopes that he had put the worst of his career slump behind him, Tiger Woods failed to find any momentum in his return to major championship golf this week at the PGA Championship.

Woods, playing in only his third event since April, was clearly out of sorts in missing the cut after shooting a surprising score of 150 over 36 holes.

The former number one player in the world said before the tournament at the Atlanta Athletic Club that he had worked his way back to feeling comfortable after a leg injury and he wanted to win the year's final major title to restart his career in a serious way in 2012.

However, he missed his first cut at the PGA in 14 career starts, and his plus-ten score, 15 strokes behind a pair of relatively unknown leaders Jason Dufner and Keegan Bradley, fairly reflected his inability to consistently control his shots.

Afterwards, Woods admitted that he was frustrated and disappointed at his performance.

'I need some work,' he said. 'I have to find a ... go-to shot.'

It was a shaky performance that is only going to keep the focus and pressure on the sporting icon, who has not won a tournament in almost two years after struggling with injuries.

Woods said he there was a bright side in that he was happy to be back playing.

'It's a giant leap forward that I played two straight weeks healthy.'

Apart from his problems with fitness and form, the 35-year-old also recently had to withstand controversy surrounding his former caddy, Steve Williams.

Woods fired Williams last month, leading the caddy to instigate what was described in the media as a feud.

If he hoped to let his game do the talking, Woods found no solace at the PGA, which he has won four times in his career, opening on Thursday with a personal worst 77 at the event after beginning three under through the first five holes.

At his press conference after the opening round, Woods spoke with uncharacteristic frankness about his current state of mind and fall from the very pinnacle of sport.

'I'm not down,' said Woods, who will have gone almost four years without a major victory by the time the next Masters comes around. 'I'm really angry right now.'

The player blamed his score on a touch of over-confidence after his quick start to the round.

'It's frustrating because I'm in a major championship, it's time to score, time to play and time to let it go,' Woods said. 'But it cost me the round.'

On Friday, Woods knew that he would in all likelihood have to shoot well under par on a testing course to make the cut, and he made things even more challenging by beginning his round two over through seven holes.

He birdied eight and nine to get himself back to even for the day with a chance of surviving into the weekend, but double bogeys at 11 and 12 left him five strokes behind the projected cut line.

Tiger did show some of his old determination down the stretch, and he rebounded with a pair of birdies on 13 and 15.

But typical of his inconsistent week, in which he missed only his third cut in 56 majors as a professional, Woods hit his drive on 18 into a bunker and followed that up with a hook into the water.

'I think I was in nearly 20 bunkers in two days and either four or five water balls,' he said. 'Today I hit the ball a lot better. I putted the ball and felt great. I just never got to the green soon enough.'

It seems a long way from April, when Woods showed glimpses of his old magic in finishing tied for fourth at the Masters.

But with a slow off-season to look forward to, Woods is upbeat about his open time for practice.

'Now I am healthy to work on my game, so that's going to be good.'