Tiger Woods in trouble at Quail Hollow

Posted by admin on April 30, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Tiger Woods is in danger of missing the 36-hole cut at the Quail Hollow Championship, something that hasn’t happened at a regular U.S. PGA Tour event in five years.

Woods sank an 8-foot putt to birdie the first hole, a 410-yard par-4, but that was only the first up in a real up-and-down second round.

Before he had reached the turn, Woods had bogeyed Nos. 3 and 4 with back-to-back three-putt efforts, birdied No. 5, bogeyed No. 6 and birdied No. 8.

Woods is two-over-par through 27 holes of the event at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, and tied for 85th.

The low 70 scores, plus ties, qualify to play the two weekend rounds. Those who miss the cut don’t collect a share of the tournament’s $6.4 million purse. Woods last missed a regular Tour-event cut at the 2005 Byron Nelson Classic. He also missed weekend play at the 2006 U.S. Open and last year’s British Open.

In his first appearance at a regular U.S. PGA Tour event since admitting marital infidelity five months ago, Woods had three bogeys and three birdies through his first nine holes today after what he called a “terrible” 2-over-par 74 yesterday. It was his worst opening round at a regular U.S. PGA Tour event since shooting 75 at the 2007 Players Championship.

The No. 1 player in golf’s official world rankings had three top-five finishes in four previous appearances at Quail Hollow, winning the tournament in 2007 and finishing fourth last year.

Phil Mickelson, who won this month’s Masters Tournament, is tied for the lead at 6-under par after shooting a 4-under 68 today. He’s even with J.P. Hayes, who matched the course record with a 64 today, along with Dustin Johnson, Billy Mayfair and first-round leader Bo Van Pelt.

Mickelson, seeking his first title at Quail Hollow, had two birdies and an eagle through his opening eight holes this morning and finished his round with 10 straight pars.

“It was a good front nine for me, I kind of stalled on the back nine,” Mickelson told reporters. “I would say I’m in good position for the weekend.”