‘I just want to go home’ – glum Tiger Woods reveals FedExCup plans after missing Open cut

The legendary American golfer shot a seven-over-par 78 in round one, his worst round at an The Open – where he is a three-time winner – in 17 years and his highest ever start by two starts.

Tiger Woods improved in the second round to card a 70 but that still left him well short of the cut line.

The 15-time major champion – who won the Masters back in April – admitted to feeling “sore” after the first round at Royal Portrush.

And the 43-year-old acknowledged he needs some time away headed into the FedExCup, where he is still confident he can make a splash having finished second last year to Justin Rose after winning the TOUR Championship.

Woods will skip the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in Memphis to ensure he’s in the best phyiscal shape he can be for the playoffs.

Speaking after his nightmarish Open weekend, Woods declared: “I just want some time off just to get away from it. 

“I had a long trip to Thailand [for a family holiday before the Open] and then I was 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.”

“I kind of grinded my way around the golf course. It’s 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 [the Masters]. But the other three, I didn’t do very well.

“I’m going to take a couple of weeks off and get ready for the playoffs. 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 Justin’s [Rose] little break there at the bunker, it could have been interesting.

“So I’ll get ready for those events. And after that then have a break.”

Woods has openly admitted he is having to adapt his schedule in order to prolong retirement having struggled with injuries in recent years, which culminated in four back surgeries.

And while he stunned golf fans to win The Masters and complete one of the sport’s greatest ever comebacks earlier this year, Woods acknowledged his body cannot do what it used to.

“One of the hardest things to accept as an older athlete is that you’re not going to be as consistent as you were at 23,” he said. 

“Things are different. And I’m going to have my hot weeks. I’m going to be there in contention with a chance to win, and I will win tournaments. But there are times when I’m just not going to be there. 

“And that wasn’t the case 20-some odd years ago. I had a different body and I was able to be a little bit more consistent.”