Tiger Woods has the weekend to stew over the worst 36 holes (74-79 – 153) of his 14-year professional career, but he must rebound quickly. Woods plays next week in The Players at the TPC Sawgrass, a course where he has often struggled. Woods has won it once (2001) and finished out of the top 10 more times (eight) than in any other event.
But Woods has a history of rallying quickly. Below is a look at how he rebounded from his five previous missed cuts.
2009 — After missing the cut in the British Open at Turnberry, Woods won the Buick and WGC-Bridgestone on consecutive weeks.
2006 – After a missed cut at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot, which followed the death of his father, Woods took three weeks off. In his return, he tied for second at the Western Open, then went on the longest winning streak of his career — eight straight tournaments including two majors.
2005 – Woods followed a missed cut at the Byron Nelson with seven straight finishes in the top five, including two victories. Late in the season, Woods missed another cut at the Disney Classic, but came back two weeks later with a runner-up at the Tour Championship.
1997 – After a missed cut at the Canadian Open, Woods didn’t miss another in 142 straight tournaments, a record.
Below are the worst rounds in each of Tiger Woods’ last 15 years and what he did after.
2009 — 75 in final round of PGA at Hazeltine, allowing Y.E. Yang to win. In his next tournament, the Barclays, Woods tied for second.
2008 – 73 in fourth round of U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, on his way to a playoff victory over Rocco Mediate, followed by knee surgery.
2007 – 76 in final round of Arnold Palmer. The next week, Woods won at the WGC-CA Championship.
2006 – 76 in the first and second round of the U.S. Open at Winged Foot, followed by breaking 70 in 27 of his next 32 rounds the rest of the season.
2005 – 75 in the third and fourth rounds of the Players were followed by his playoff win in the Masters over Chris DiMarco.
2004 – 76 in the final round of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock, followed by top 10s in 9 of his next 10 events.
2003 – 76 in first round of Masters, third round of Memorial.
2002 – 81 in third round of British Open at Murfield, which he followed with a 65 on his way to a T28, then a win in his next tournament, the Buick.
2001 – 75 in opening round of Buick, followed by 66-68-71 and a T16.
2000 – 76 in final round of Williams World Challenge, followed the next week by a playoff win a the Mercedes.
1999 – 75 three times in a span of six rounds at the Players and Masters. In his next three tournaments Woods went T18, T7, then won seven of his next 10.
1998 – 77 in final round of Bay Hill, followed by T35 at Players, T8 Masters, and a win at the BellSouth.
1997 – 76 in second round (missed cut) at Bell Canadian, followed by Ryder Cup.
1996 – 78 in second round of Tour Championship, followed by 72-68 and a T21, two months after turning pro.
1995 – 85 as a 19-year-old amateur in second round of U.S. Open in missing cut. Follows with second victory at U.S. Amateur.
