Woods misses cut, Rose holds lead at Torrey Pines

LA JOLLA, United States — Tiger Woods' long-awaited PGA Tour comeback came to an abrupt end at the Farmers Insurance Open on Friday as the former world No. 1 tumbled out of the tournament after missing the cut. Woods started the day at Torrey Pines Golf Course needing a low second round score to extend his participation into the weekend after a wayward four-over-par first round on Thursday. But despite perfect conditions on Torrey Pines' more forgiving North Course, Woods again struggled to generate any momentum, carding a level-par 72, which left him four-over after 36 holes. With the cut coming at level par, Woods was left contemplating an early exit at his first full-field PGA Tour event since August 2015. "It's frustrating, not being able to have a chance to win the tournament," Woods told reporters. "I didn't make the cut." Woods — who now heads to the Gulf for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic next week, took comfort from signs of improvement on Friday after his erratic opening round the previous day. Woods was not the only high-profile casualty on Friday, with world No. 1 Jason Day and world No. 3 Dustin Johnson also missing the cut. Rickie Fowler also missed out after finishing three over following a second round 75. At the other end of the leaderboard, England's Justin Rose will take a one-shot lead into the weekend after carding a one-under-par 71 on the South Course, a day after his seven-under-par opening round. The 2016 Olympic champion sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the last — his third of a round which included two bogeys — to move clear of the field at eight under. Lurking just behind Rose is in-form Canadian Adam Hadwin, who shot a 71 to follow up his six-under-par 66 on Thursday, and defending champion Brandt Snedeker, who shot a three-under-par 69. Miyazato fights to keepMyanmar Open lead Japan's Yusaku Miyazato clung on to his lead in round three of the Myanmar Open on Saturday, dropping his first shot of the tournament as blustery conditions hit the Yangon course. Miyazato sank a huge eagle early in the day but saw his lead narrow to one shot after bogeying three holes, finishing the round with 11-under par 202 total. On his heels was Korea's K.T. Kim, who climbed up the leaderboard with a run of five birdies in 12 holes, closing the day one shot away from the top. Golfers from 30 different nations are battling for a share of the $750,000 pot in Myanmar's richest tournament at the Pun Hlaing golf Club. If Miyazato clinches tomorrow's title it will be the three-time winner's first victory outside of Japan. Myanmar's nascent golfing scene has gathered steam as the county emerges from five decades of isolating military rule. While golf remains the preserve of the elite, some of Myanmar's best players hail from modest backgrounds, learning the skill as caddies to the rich. Thompson fires 61 but Lincicome clings to lead In Miami, American Lexi Thompson fired a career-low 12-under par 61 but compatriot Brittany Lincicome, with the help of a hole in one, clung to a one-stroke lead after Friday's second round of the LPGA season-opening Pure Silk Classic. Thompson shattered the course and tournament records at the Paradise Island Ocean Club layout in the Bahamas with 10 birdies and an eagle in a bogey-free round. Lincicome aced the par-3 12th hole and ran off five birdies in a row. Despite a costly double bogey she was on 17-under 129, one stroke in front of Thompson. An all-American top four saw Gerina Piller third on 132 with Stacy Lewis another shot back. US teen Megan Khang and Thailand's P.K. Kongkraphan shared fifth on 135. Thompson, who won titles last year in Thailand and Japan, began on the back nine with a birdie at 10, then eagled the par-5 11th with a 20-foot putt and birdied the par-3 12th and par-4 13th. After collecting birdies at the par-5 15th and 18th, Thompson birdied the first and par-3 third then closed with birdies on three of the last four holes. Thompson, whose only major triumph came at the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship, smashed the tournament and course record 64 that Lincicome fired on Thursday. Lincicome, who also began at the 10th tee, birdied the 11th hole then aced the 12th and birdied 13 before taking a double bogey at 14, her lone stumble of the round. She began her birdie streak at the par-5 18th and closed it at the par-5 fourth then closed with a birdie that proved her margin atop the leaderboard at day's end. Lincicome seeks her seventh career LPGA victory and the first since she captured her second career major title at the 2015 ANA Inspiration. — AFP