Golf:Tiger Woods hit another low today as he headed out of the USPGA Championship with what looked like being his worst-ever performance in a major. When he followed a six on Atlanta Athletic Club's 457-yard 11th with a seven at the 551-yard next it was the first time in his professional career he had recorded five double bogeys in a tournament.

Three had come in his opening seven-over-par 77 and at 11 over with seven to play he was an incredible 129th in the 153-strong field. Only the leading 70 and ties qualify for the final 36 holes, so it was certain to be just the third time in 56 majors as a professional that Woods had made an early exit.

He was 16 strokes behind new leader Scott Verplank, who had taken over at the top with fellow American Steve Stricker following up his major record-equalling 63 with four bogeys in the first nine holes of his second round.

At the 11th Woods was in two bunkers and then went in the lake the other side of the green, while on the 12th he twice hooked deep into the trees.

Verplank, who still had the fearsome finishing stretch to come, led by one from not only Stricker, but also their compatriots DA Points and Jason Dufner and Australian Adam Scott, winner of last week’s world championship in Akron.