Tiger finds the going tough in the 'jungle'

Tiger Woods' body language said it all on Friday as he huffed and puffed and almost blew his Masters chances with his worst score at the tournament in eight years.

The former world number one came into the week riding a wave of momentum after ending a two-and-a-half-year title drought on the PGA Tour but laboured to a three-over-par 75 in the second round at Augusta National.

Woods looked distinctly uncomfortable at a venue where he has triumphed four times, especially over the closing stretch where he kicked a club in frustration at one point and ended the day eight shots off the lead.

The biggest problem for the 14-times major champion was old habits creeping back into a swing he has grooved with coach Sean Foley over the last two years.

At the par-five 15th, Woods steered a four-iron approach into the crowd standing to the right of the green, scattering the fans as they dashed for cover.

At the par-three 16th, he pushed his tee shot into a greenside bunker before throwing his nine-iron to the ground in disgust and kicking it away.

"I think we can safely say Tiger has lost his game ... and his mind," six-times major champion Nick Faldo said on the Golf Channel.

While Woods expressed his frustration after posting a three-over total of 147, he felt he still had a chance of clawing his way into contention over the weekend. "I understand how to be patient, I understand how to grind it out, and the tournament is not over," the 36-year-old American told reporters. "Last year I think on the final round I made up seven shots. I can do this. I've just got to be patient."

First Published: Apr 08, 2012 00:20 IST