Golf: Toiling Tiger leaves it late to secure place for weekend

Tiger Woods ended a scrappy second round by picking up his first birdie of the day at the 18th on Friday to ensure he qualified for the weekend at the British Open.

The 14-times major champion dropped three strokes at the opening two holes before slumping to a triple-bogey seven at the 17th.

Woods then produced a delicate chip over a greenside bunker at the last hole and calmly rolled in a seven-foot putt to complete a five-over-par round of 77 and a total of 146, two over.

The 38-year-old American, who won the championship the last time it was held in Hoylake in 2006, is making only his second competitive appearance since undergoing back surgery in March. - Reuters