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Tiger Woods misses cut at U.S. Open after second round struggles

Tiger Woods is headed home early.

Woods, after a rollercoaster start at the U.S. Open on Thursday, had a rough outing on Friday, to stay the least.

Woods posted a 7-over 77 in the second round and dropped to 10-over on the week, well outside of the cutline at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York.

“It’s frustrating that I’m not going to be here for the weekend and be able to compete for this great championship,” Woods said, via the PGA Tour. “It feels like the way the golf course is changing, is turning, that anybody who makes the cut has the opportunity to win this championship. I didn’t give myself that opportunity.”

Woods’ awful stretch on Friday

Woods entered Friday at 3-over following an up-and-down round on Thursday, where he carded five birdies but had six bogeys and a double to offset them.

The leaders were just at 5-under, however, and Woods was still in position to make a move — especially after his start on Friday. The 82-time PGA Tour winner opened the second round with four straight pars, holding in position just fine.

Things, however, quickly sent south.

Woods went five over on his final five holes, thanks to a rough pair of double bogeys, to close out his front side with a 40. He made four bogeys on his back nine, too, and appeared to be in a near free fall on the leaderboard in the process.

The 44-year-old finished the day on a high note of sorts, making a pair of birdies in his final three holes — including an impressive up-and-down from the bunker on No. 9. By then, though, it was far too late. Woods finished 2-over on the back and fell into 90th on the leaderboard, ending his tournament.

“Physically it was pretty frustrating that I didn’t drive the ball as well as I needed to,” said Woods, who hit just five fairways on Friday, via the PGA Tour. “Iron play was pretty much the way it has been. It’s been good, and I finally putted well. But on this golf course it’s imperative that you hit fairways, and I didn’t do that.”

Woods isn’t alone in struggles

Woods isn’t the only notable player to miss the cut, which sat at a high 6-over par. Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia and defending champion Gary Woodland all didn’t make it to the weekend, either.

Winged Foot kicked back hard on Friday. The field on Thursday posted the lowest average score ever at a U.S. Open. By the second round, only three players were able to card a round under par.

Patrick Reed leads the field headed into Saturday at 4-under, and Bryson DeChambeau is right behind him at 3-under.

Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open
Tiger Woods of the United States reacts after hitting his second shot on the 18th hole during the second round of the 120th U.S. Open Championship on September 18, 2020 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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