Golf: Woods down but not out at Baltusrol

SPRINGFIELD - World number one Tigers Woods birdied the 18th hole for a one-under-par 69 to make the cut at the US PGA Championship with a four-over total of 144 at Baltusrol Golf Club.

New Zealand golfer and this year's US Open winner Michael Campbell carded a two-under par 68, to finish the second round tied for 30th one over par on 141.

Woods trailed second-round leader Phil Mickelson by 12 strokes but could claim a victory in overcoming his struggles and keeping his streak alive of making every cut in the 36 majors he has played since turning professional in 1996.

The 29-year-old, bidding for his third major title of the season, found himself in danger of an early exit when he reached the turn on Friday at seven over par after four bogeys and two birdies on the front side.

Birdies at the 11th, 12th and 15th holes lifted him to four over and he looked safe as he headed to the pair of par-five finishing holes right on the cut line.

Woods tried to reach the mammoth, 650-yard 17th with his second shot but caught a bad lie near the back edge of a greenside bunker.

He came out into the rough above the bunker, chipped on and then lipped out a 10-foot par putt for a bogey six that left him one shot outside the projected cut line.

Needing a birdie to qualify for the weekend's play, Woods crushed his drive at the 554-yard last, put a seven-iron safely on the green and two-putted for birdie.

"I grinded it out and did the best I could all day," said a relieved Woods. "I didn't know what the number was to honest until 18.

"(Caddie) Stevie (Williams) told me I needed to make birdie on the last hole and I said: 'alright, I can do that'.

"Other than that, I was just trying to get back to even par for the tournament."

Although Woods had never missed the cut at a major in his professional career, this was not the first time the world number one left it late to preserve his record.

At the 2003 US Masters, Woods needed to get up and down from a greenside bunker on the final hole of the second round at Augusta National to finish right on the cut mark.

Earlier this year, Woods' remarkable run of 142 consecutive cuts made at PGA Tour events come to a halt at the Byron Nelson Championship in early May, ending one of the sporting world's greatest record streaks.

Despite his problems on Baltusrol's Lower Course, Woods refused to surrender his chance of adding a third major title of the year to his wins at the Masters and British Open.

The supremely confident American was keenly aware of what he has to do over the weekend if he is to lift his career major haul to 11 and draw level with compatriot Walter Hagen in second place in the all-time standings.

"I need to shoot something that gets me back in red figures for the tournament after the day's end tomorrow," said Woods. "Then see what number I'm going to have to shoot for come Sunday.

"I need to shoot a great round tomorrow and hopefully I can do that.

"I grinded my butt off today. It's one of those things, you've got to stay patient, stay in the moment and keep grinding.

"You never know what can happen. I've snuck in before and I've won tournaments."

- REUTERS