First cut deepest for Tiger

SCOTT VERPLANK was vying with Steve Stricker at the top of the leaderboard last night but Tiger Woods was in freefall as he stared at the prospect of his first PGA Championship missed cut in 14 starts.

The former world number one, a four-time champion in the final Major of the year, had begun the day trying to make amends for the highest opening round of his Major championship career 24 hours earlier but he was heading for just the fourth missed cut in 62 Major starts last night.

Woods’ game, fitness and personal life have been in turmoil since November 2009, the month he recorded his last victory at the Australian Masters, only to see revelations about his extra-marital affairs emerge a fortnight later at the cost of his marriage to Elin Nordegren.