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Most times Tiger Woods missing the cut at a golf tournament would be a shock, but Australian Geoff Ogilvy wasn’t surprised after the world No.1 dropped out of the Quail Hollow Championship.
When Woods returned to competition for the first time this year with a tie for fourth at the Masters, it was widely assumed that he had picked up where he left off before his nearly five month break tending to his personal problems.
But while Woods got away with some dreadful play at Augusta, Ogilvy was not impressed with the world No.1’s swing and therefore was not shocked when Woods’ flaws were exposed at Quail Hollow on Friday.
“You cant hide on this course,” the 2006 US Open champion said after learning Woods had shot 79 to post a nine-over-par 153 total, missing the cut for just the sixth time in his professional career.
“I didn’t think it looked like he (Woods) was playing very well at Augusta.
“I think his game is poor. After Augusta, I thought he was a long way from his best but he won four or five times in the last two-thirds of last year and I didn’t think his game was at his best either.
“At Augusta, off the tee you can (get away with) a little bit. This is a harder course to play poorly and get away with it, because it’s narrow off the tee and in the rough it’s hard, and if you miss the greens in the wrong spots.
“Six (missed cuts) in 13 years is pretty impressive, so I guess it has to be a mild surprise when he misses one, but with the last five months, its not surprising he’s missed one.”
What was surprising was that Woods missed the cut by a massive eight strokes after easily the worst 36-hole performance of his career.
He hit only two fairways and, even more shockingly, appeared to give up after hitting his second shot into a water hazard at the 14th hole.
Despite evidence to the contrary, Woods denied throwing in the towel.
“At that point in time it was pretty much out of reach and I was just trying to stay out of Angel’s way,” he said, referring to Angel Cabrera.
“He’s the one leading the tournament and that’s what you’re supposed to do.
“It does bother me, no doubt (missing the cut) but at least I get the weekend to watch and see how it’s done, how real players play golf and hopefully I can piece it together for next week and be ready to go.”
Woods most recently missed a cut at last year’s British Open, and before then at the 2006 United States Open.
Until Friday, he had not missed a cut at a regular US PGA Tour event since 2005.
American Billy Mayfair set the pace at eight-under 136, one stroke ahead of Argentine Angel Cabrera, with Masters champion Phil Mickelson among a group two shots behind.
Ogilvy headed the Australians, four shots back after two late bogeys, while Robert Allenby and Greg Chalmers trailed by five.