Golf: Lydia Ko misses cut at Scottish Open

Lydia Ko, of New Zealand. Photo / AP.

Lydia Ko has missed just the third cut of her professional career after a horror round at the windswept Scottish Open.

Ko shot a seven-over par 79 - tied for the second worst round of her career - as she missed the cut by four strokes.

On a day where just 17 golfers shot under par, Ko struggled more than most, carding five bogies on the front nine, before starting her back nine with a double bogey and bogey to be eight over through just 11 holes.

While she stabilised down the stretch, Ko was already out of contention, describing the conditions as the windiest she has ever played in.

"Normally when I played the British Opens, or even here a couple years ago, there was rain and that kind of softens up everything and it just makes it a touch easier than what it could be playing," Ko told The Scotsman.

"But I think today was probably one of the most difficult rounds I've played in my career, both physically and mentally."

Putting - where she ranks sixth on the LPGA Tour this year - was Ko's downfall, requiring 33 putts in her first round, and 35 in her second. Ko bemoaned missing several short putts, which negated her decent weekend with the driver.

"I just couldn't stroke the putt. It was like all over the show. It's so difficult. You think putting would be easy, but when it's this windy it's not."

"You don't get many birdie opportunities and when I did, I'm not holing it. If I did miss a fairway today, they were just in that cut line and I've only been in one pot bunker the last two days. "I was driving it really well and hopefully I can bring that into next week. It's difficult but you just have to be patient and it's hard to be patient for that long."

Ko will remain in Scotland to compete at the British Open at Kingsbarns, as she looks to end her year-long winless stretch.