Tiger Woods missed the halfway cut in an Open Championship for only a third time in his career and revealing he has withdrawn from next week’s inaugural WGC – FedEx Championship in Memphis.

Woods indicated he was taking time off after posting a Royal Portrush second round 70 for a disappointing seven-over par tally in the 148th staging of golf’s oldest major.

The 15-time Major winner got his second day off to a super start with a 30-foot opening hole birdie after being in the left rough off the tee for a second day running before also holing a great birdie at the uphill par-3 sixth but then for a second day running Woods bogeyed the par-5 7th after hitting his second shot left into the crowd gathered around the green and from where he took four shots to get up-and-down.

Tiger Woods tees off on route to a second round 70 but misses the cut with a six-over tally

Birdies following at 10 and 11 to get Woods back to two-under for the day and five-over in total and with the World No. 5 paring holes 12 to 16 and only for Woods to drop shots at 17 and the last in his round of 70.

This week marked Woods 21st Open Championship and while victorious in 2000, 2005 and 2006 he’s now missed the cut in 2009 at Turnberry and 2015 at St. Andrews.

And he spoke after his round in talking about his second round score

“I kind of grinded my way around the golf course today. I had a chance to get it back to even par for the tournament. I didn’t handle the par-5s well. I was in perfect condition all three of them, if I handled those par 5s well I would be right there,” he said.

“It has been more frustrating than anything else because this is a major championship and I love playing in these events. I love the atmosphere. I love just the stress of playing in a major. And unfortunately, I’ve only had a chance to win one of them and was able to do it. But the other three I didn’t do very well.

And when asked where he thinks he will tee-up next Woods indicated would not in the city made famous by Elvis Presley.

“I’m going to take a couple of weeks off and get ready for the playoffs,” he said.

“We’ve got the playoffs coming up, and anything can happen. Last year I almost stole the whole FedExCup at the very end. If it wasn’t for Rosie’s little break there at the bunker, it could have been interesting.

“So get ready for those events. And after that then have a break.

“No, I just want some time off just to get away from it. I had a long trip to Thailand and then trying to get ready for this event, to play this event, it’s been a lot of travel, a lot of time in the air, a lot of moving around and different hotels and everything. I just want to go home.”

Woods had undergone close to 45-minutes treatment on his back immediately following his second round and also ahead of day two of this week’s event.