Watson magic and Woods exit showcase Open volatility

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - The British Open's renowned unpredictability with its vagaries of weather was sharply highlighted on Friday when Tom Watson, 59, tied for the lead and world number one Tiger Woods missed the cut.

Watson, who plays mainly on the senior Champions Tour, stayed on track for a record-equalling sixth Open victory while fellow American Woods missed the cut in a major for only the second time as a professional.

Although those were the most astonishing examples of the perceived form book being overturned, plenty of others were delivered as tricky winds and intermittent rain swept across Turnberry's spectacular Ailsa Course.

Britain's Ian Poulter, runner-up at last year's Open and listed by British bookmakers William Hill as one of the favourites at the start of the week at 28/1, missed the cut by a staggering 10 strokes after carding a nine-over 79.

Australian world number seven Geoff Ogilvy, U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover, in-form American Hunter Mahan and compatriot Ben Curtis, the 2003 winner, also failed to advance.

At the other end of the logic book, little-known American Steve Marino added a 68 to his opening 67 to join Watson in a share of the lead at five-under 135.

Long-hitting Marino, making his first British Open appearance, had never played links-course golf until this week.

Asked what to make of all this, Watson told reporters: "Well, I never played links golf before I played Carnoustie in 1975, and it turned out pretty good for me there."