Toiling Tiger likely to miss Turnberry cut

Tiger Woods of the U.S. reacts as he walks off the third tee during the first round of the British Open Golf Championship at the Turnberry Golf Club in Scotland, July 16, 2009.

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - World number one Tiger Woods struggled to a 74 in Friday's second round at the British Open and is likely to miss the cut in a major championship for only the second time as a professional.

The 33-year-old American, hunting a 15th major victory, suffered a torrid run either side of the turn before posting a five-over total of 145, a stroke outside the projected cut.

A heavy favourite to lift the Claret Jug for a fourth time, Woods was one under for the first seven holes before winds of up to 25-mph (40-kph) blew him off track on Turnberry's Ailsa Course.

He dropped seven strokes in six holes from the eighth but partially recovered with back-to-birdies on 16 and 17 before getting up and down from just off the green to save par at the last.

"I was one under after seven holes and right there in the championship and had a few tough holes in a row and couldn't get it back," Woods told BBC television. "I hit a couple of bad shots ... it was just problem after problem. If I could have just played those holes well I'd be fine, coming home downwind I could make some birdies coming home.

"I didn't do that, hit some bad tee shots, a couple of bad iron shots, didn't get it up and down and kept making mistake after mistake," added Woods.

"I birdied two of the last four and I think that's not going to be enough. You can't make mistakes and expect to not only make the cut but also try and win a championship."

(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)