Three-time Open Champion Tiger Woods got his comeback from major surgery back on track in making the halfway cut at Royal Liverpool.

After driving out-of-bounds down the right side of the 17th, Woods holed a five-foot putt birdie putt on the 18th in a round of a five under par 77 for a two-over par tally and right on the cut-off mark.

Tiger Woods playing from the rough at the 17th hole and on route to a triple bogey but still managing to make the cut in his first Major this season. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

Woods has failed to make the cut at a major only three times in his professional career, most recently at the 2011 PGA. He also missed at the 2006 U.S. Open, shortly after the death of his father, and the 2009 British Open.

However Woods accepted his place in the field being among 16 players to make the cut right on the mark at two over par, and among those assured of playing all four rounds was USA Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson who joined Woods at two over par.

And Woods spoke after his round of his pleasure in making the cut for a first time since his back surgery.

“Making that putt on the last gives me a chance,” he said.

“I’m pretty far back but luckily I’ve got two rounds to go.  And hopefully I can do something like Paul Lawrie did in 1999 .  He made up, I think 10 shots in one day.

“Do if I play well on the weekend and at least give myself a shot at going to the back nine on Sunday.”

And in a bizarre first in Woods’ career he will commence his third round of the 2014 Open from the 10th at 11.01am and at the same Rory McIlroy will be teeing off at the first.

It is the first time in the history of golf’s oldest Major there will be a two-tee start and this is due to the threat of severe electrical storms set to lash the Royal Liverpool course.