TROON, Scotland (AP) — Tiger Woods ended his season Friday in the British Open by missing the cut for the third straight time in a major. He shot a 6-over 77.
Woods set a record at the Masters by making the cut for the 24th consecutive time. That was the only tournament this year — he played only five of them — that he worked the weekend.
Woods opened with a 79 at Royal Troon and never seriously challenged making the 36-hole cut in the British Open. He had a double bogey on his second hole even before the wind began to pick up, and he had only one birdie in his round.
Woods said he would not play again until December at his unofficial Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas and the PNC Championship with his son.
This was the first time since 2019 that Woods felt healthy enough to play the four majors. It was the second time in his career that he has missed the cut in the last three majors.
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Tiger Woods of the United States waves as he walks off the 18th green following his second round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Troon golf club in Troon, Scotland, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Tiger Woods of the United States waves as he walks to the 18th green during his second round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Troon golf club in Troon, Scotland, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
SUZUKA, Japan (AP) — Max Verstappen of Red Bull won Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix and broke a “mini-slump” of only two wins in his previous 16 races.
It was the Dutch driver's fourth straight victory on the Suzuka circuit in central Japan and breaks the momentum of the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who won the season’s first two races in Melbourne, Australia, and Shanghai, China.
The four-time defending Formula 1 champion, Verstappen started from pole position after setting a course-record time in qualifying, which he called “insane.” Norris placed second and Piastri was third. The track was dry despite rain earlier in the day to produce an incident-free race.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished fourth followed by George Russell of Mercedes and teammate Kimi Antonelli in sixth. Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda finished 12th in his first drive with Red Bull's top team.
“We keep pushing,” Verstappen said. “Unbelievable. A great weekend for us.”
Norris leads the driver’s standings after three races with 62 points to 61 for Verstappen.
The weekend turned when Verstappen took the pole on his record last lap Saturday in qualifying.
“If was fun, just pushing very hard at the end," Verstappen said. “The two McLarens were pushing very hard. We didn’t give up improving the car and today it was in its best form.”
“Of course, starting on the pole — that's what make it possible to win this race.”
Sunday's start was clean with Verstappen taking the lead with the top starters on the grid falling into line behind him. Verstappen slowly stretched his lead and was two seconds ahead of Norris after 10 of 53 laps and kept the same advantage after 15.
Most of the leaders pitted around the 20-lap mark. Verstappen and Norris exited the pits at almost exactly the same time with Norris driving over the grass, unable to get by Verstappen.
“He drove himself into the grass,” Verstappen said on the radio.
Stewards said almost immediately the incident did not merit further investigation.
Antonelli led briefly in the middle of the race. At 18 he is the youngest to ever lead in F1 race.
Verstappen was back in the lead after 32 laps, only 1.3 seconds ahead of Norris and 3.4 up on Piastri. On the 36th lap the radio told him: “Push from here.”
He did just that, pushing all the way to his 64th career win.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates with his trophy on the podium after the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates with his trophy after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates with his trophy on the podium after the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, center, of the Netherlands celebrates after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, right, of the Netherlands celebrates after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, Pool)
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia steers his car during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, left, celebrates with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, right, after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix race at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, Pool)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix race at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, Pool)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
McLaren drivers Lando Norris of Britain, left, and Oscar Piastri of Australia, right, talk after qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, left, is accompanied with McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, center, and McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, right, after qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands gets pushed back into his garage during the qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, Pool)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after the qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after the qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
