The 59-year-old Watson rolled in two impossibly long putts, danced a Scottish jig on the 18th green and walked off tied with unheralded American Steve Marino for the 36-hole lead at Turnberry, which struck back with a fury, thanks to a stiff breeze whipping off the Firth of Clyde.

Watson, at five under, is the oldest player ever to lead a major.

Woods won't be around to see how it all turns out. He took two double bogeys on the back side, limped off with a 4-over 74 and missed the cut in a major for only the second time in his professional career.

"It was just problem after problem," said Woods, who came into golf's oldest championship as an overwhelming favorite after winning three times since his return from knee surgery. "I kept compounding my problems out there."

Major title No. 15 will have to wait.

five-time Open champion

Watson, trying to shatter the record for the oldest major winner, hit all his bad shots at the start. The five-time Open champion bogeyed five out of six holes on the front - four of them in a row - but remarkably played the final 10 holes in 4 under.

He signed for an even 70 that might have been more impressive than his bogey-free 65 in the opening round.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I could win," Watson said.

Woods had missed only one cut in a major since turning pro, and that was at the 2006 US Open shortly after the death of his father, Earl.

The top 70, plus ties, make it to the final two rounds. The British Open doesn't have a 10-shot rule, which would allow anyone within that margin of the lead to make the cut. Woods was 10 behind co-leaders Marino and Watson.

Marino shot 68 in treacherous conditions and will go out in the final group on Saturday with Watson. Another old-timer, 49-year-old Mark Calcavecchia, will start one stroke back.

"It's as if the spirits are on my side," said Watson, who rolled in a 75-foot birdie at the 16th and a 45-footer at the final hole. "I hope the spirits stay on my side."

disappointing 71

Since the '06 miss at Winged Foot, Woods had made the cut in 43 consecutive tournaments worldwide. He opened with a disappointing 71 in much easier conditions on Thursday, but was still in decent shape when he made the turn.

Then, it all fell apart.

Woods' tee shot at No. 10 sailed wildly into the tall grass far right of the fairway - a familiar problem both days - and it was clear he was in trouble when he hit a provisional. Even with dozens of fans helping him look, he could only find someone else's lost ball - who knows how long that's been there? - took a one-stroke penalty and wound up with a double-bogey 6.