Woods slumps to worst ever professional round of 82

Tiger Woods has slumped to his worst round as a professional after carding an 11-over-par 82 in the second round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

The 14-times major winner, struggling in his return to competitive golf after a long layoff due to a back injury, had six bogeys, two double bogeys, a triple bogey and two birdies in the round on Friday.

“It’s golf, we all have days like this,” Woods said. “Unfortunately, mine was in a public forum, in a public setting.”

Woods, whose previous worst score was an 81 in foul weather in the third round of the 2002 British Open, retained a sense of humour despite his humbling showing in Arizona.

“I’m just doing this so I don’t get fined,” he joked to reporters, echoing media-shy Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch, who is playing in the Super Bowl in nearby Glendale on Sunday.

Friday’s round plunged Woods into last place in the field midway through the round at 13-over 155, 21 shots off the pace.

He struggled in all phases of his game in rainy conditions at TPC Scottsdale.

The former world number one sprayed drives, found water, flew approach shots over greens, flubbed chips and missed short putts in only his second event in five months after back pain for much of last year.

The embarrassing performance came after intense work with new swing coach Chris Como and a tie for last place last month in an event hosted by Woods at his previous home course of Isleworth outside Orlando.

Woods struggled mightily with his chipping game there, and it is still sorely lacking.

“My attack angle was much steeper with [previous instructor] Sean [Foley]” he said. “Now I’m very shallow, so that in turn affects the chipping. I’m not bottoming out in the same spot.”

Woods, 39, has not won a major since his 2008 US Open triumph in a 19-hole playoff against Rocco Mediate and he again showed he has a long way to go to get close to his top level.