Tiger Woods fails to make cut at Quail Hollow

Reporting from Charlotte, N.C. — 

The second step in Tiger Woods’ post-scandal chapter turned out to be a short one. Maybe even a step backward.

Woods missed the cut for just the sixth time in his professional career, stumbling to a seven-over-par 79 at the Quail Hollow Championship that left him far down the scoreboard and set a handful of personal worsts.

Coupled with Thursday’s 74, Woods’ two-day total of nine-over 153 was his highest as a pro — one more than when he missed the cut at the 2006 U.S. Open. That was his first tournament back after his father’s death.

And a seven-over 43 on Quail Hollow’s back nine matched the worst nine-hole score of his career — equaling his efforts at the 1997 Tour Championship and at Bay Hill three years ago.

“Well, I got the weekend off,” Woods said after signing for the second-highest round of his career.

Only once has golf’s No.1 attraction failed to break 80 — carding an 81 in the third round of the 2002 British Open on a day when a freak wintry storm blew into Muirfield and pelted golfers with freezing rain that blew sideways.

There was none of that at Quail Hollow, where playing partner Angel Cabrera shot 67 to move within one shot of leader Billy Mayfair. Dustin Johnson and Jim Furyk shot 65s, one off the tournament’s 18-hole record.

Woods, though, hit two of 14 fairways Friday. For the two days, he was six for 28.

“I’ve seen him struggle like that off the tee,” playing partner Stewart Cink said, “but he’s usually a magician getting up and down [for par]. It’s hard to be that magician after all that time off.”

Woods has played six competitive rounds since his scandal-driven hiatus, which dragged for 144 days as he went through seven weeks of therapy.

Though he made it through Quail Hollow’s front nine at par Friday, three consecutive bogeys to start the back side put him in danger. Then came the crusher: consecutive double bogeys at Nos. 14 and 15.

After badly missing while trying to drive the green at the short par-four 14th, Woods’ chip shot went long and caught a downslope on the putting surface that sent his ball racing toward a pond. He followed with a four-putt at No. 15, three of which came from within 3 1/2 feet.

The last time Woods missed the cut came at last year’s British Open, when he opened 71-74 at Turnberry. To find his last free weekend at a nonmajor, you have to go back to the Disney stop in 2005.

Even a far more enthusiastic crowd was unable to light a spark in Woods’ game. Spectators were back to lining up at least three deep along each fairway, shouting encouragement as the golfer walked silently past.

As the round wound down, though, Woods got his first heckler. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police escorted a man off the course for yelling something at Woods as he left the 17th green.

Police and marshals would not divulge what the man said to get ejected.

“I heard it, but I’m not going to repeat it,” marshal Clarence Strahan said. “It was too vulgar for print.”

Others near the area said it had to do with Joslyn James, the porn star who has alleged a long-term affair with the golfer.

jshain@orlandosentinel.com