Costly double bogey hurts Tiger's chances

DUBLIN, Ohio – Five-time Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide champion Tiger Woods was trending nicely towards contention on Friday at Muirfield Village.

He sat in the fairway on the par-5 15th hole within reach of the green, having discreetly moved to 4-under for the week, knowing an eagle or birdie would set his weekend up nicely.

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But Woods pulled his 5-wood dead left and missed the putting surface in deep rough, leaving him short-sided.

Two poor chip shots followed, and when he finally chipped it close to 4-feet, the 81-time PGA TOUR winner missed the putt.

Double bogey seven.

It was the 260th par-5 Woods had played in his career at the Memorial Tournament, and just his sixth double bogey.

Five of them have come at the 15th.

“The second shot, by far (was the most disappointing),” Woods lamented after his even-par 72 left him 2-under and seven shots off the lead in a tie for 33rd.

“I could hit that ball 50 yards right of the flag and be fine. Anything inbounds right of the flag, I have a chance to make birdie. I just can't afford to miss it left where that flag is. And I did.

“At 14 I had a look to go to 5 and make birdie at 15, go to 6 and all of a sudden I'm three back, and now here I am seven back. So a round that could have flipped and gone in a positive way didn't do that because of what I did on 15.”

Woods hasn’t given up hope of making it six titles at Muirfield Village, the venue where he was also part of a winning Presidents Cup team in 2013, and a record tying 82nd TOUR win.

“I'm going to have to (go low),” he said of Saturday’s third round.

“Seems like everyone is bunched together. I just need to get something going in the front nine where the pins are definitely gettable tomorrow.”