Woods in danger of missing the cut

Four days after his lowest finish in five years, Tiger Woods yesterday matched his worst round in the Players Championship here in Florida.

Four days after his lowest finish in five years, Tiger Woods yesterday matched his worst round in the Players Championship here in Florida.

A three-over-par 75 left the world No 1 in severe danger of missing his first halfway cut in 120 tournaments stretching back seven years. Even after single-putting the last four greens Woods, a lowly 46th in last week's Bay Hill Invitational, was way down the scoreboard.

Yet the American, having found just six of the 14 fairways and only seven of the 18 greens, still insisted afterwards that things are not as bad as they seem on the surface. "I don't feel I played poorly, that's the funny thing," said Woods, who trailed the early leader, Adam Scott, by 10 strokes. "I'm hitting quality shots, but I seem to be in a stretch where all the breaks are going against me."

Asked about the possibility of making an early exit from the event he won in 2001, Woods said: "I just need to get going a bit and if I get into red figures [under par] I will be all right."

Scott, whose swing was modelled on Woods by the coach Butch Harmon, hit eight birdies including one on the 18th after a nine iron to three feet. Scott's round was a shot better than Duffy Waldorf and two better than South Korea's K J Choi.

Scott, who was third at Bay Hill, said: "I'm seeing my game improve and as long as that keeps happening you're going to win some good events."

The defending champion, Davis Love III, hurt his back in practice and hit a 77. Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer made 71s.