AKRON, Ohio (Reuters) - Tiger Woods will go into next week's PGA Championship with his game in total disarray and the emotional state of his mind highly questionable after a career-worst performance at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
The American struggled to a stunning seven-over-par 77 in Sunday's final round at Firestone Country Club, his highest final score as a professional, to lie second-last in the 80-strong field.
At a venue where he has previously reigned supreme with seven victories in 11 starts, world number one Woods carded two double-bogeys in the last five holes to post an 18-over total of 298.
It was his highest 72-hole aggregate on the PGA Tour, his worst relative to par and the first time since the 2003 PGA Championship he had strung together four rounds over par.
"(I'm) just not playing well," a grim-faced Woods told reporters after completing his round nearly three hours before the leaders were scheduled to tee off.
"Shooting 18 over par is not fun. The only thing I can say all week is I was patient, and unfortunately that's not enough."
(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
