ST ANDREWS, United Kingdom (AFP) - Tiger Woods looked to be heading out of the door at St Andrews on Friday, facing back-to-back missed cuts in majors for the first time in his career.

The former world No. 1, mired in the worst slump of his pro career, on Thursday carded a four over 76 in the British Open first round.

It was the worst first round he had posted in a major and with the scoring low, it left him with a mountain to climb to make it through to the weekend.

After six holes of his second round, he was moving in the wrong direction and stood at six over with the cut projected to fall at even par.

He was tied for 140th position out of 156 starters.

A three and a half hour rain delay meant that Woods and his two playing partners did not start their rounds till after 6pm and they had no hope of completing the round before Saturday morning.

Woods missed the cut at last month's US Open at Chambers Bay near Seattle after rounds of 80 and 76.

He tied for 17th in the Masters in April, but also missed the cut in the final major of last year, the PGA Championship.

His last and only missed cut in 19 previous British Opens came at Turnberry in 2009.

He won the tournament three times - in 2000, 2005 and 2006, part of his haul of 14 major titles, the second best of all-time behind the 18 of Jack Nicklaus.