Tiger Woods' hopes of a third consecutive Grand Slam all but ended after the worst round of his professional career at Muirfield.

The world number one recorded an unthinkable 81 which included seven bogeys and two double bogeys.

Things started and ended badly for Woods - he bogeyed the first and then saw a birdie putt lip out at the 18th.

"Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be today," said Woods.

"I didn't get off to the greatest of starts.

"It was tough starting out - the wind was howling, it was raining pretty hard."

Woods also dismissed suggestions that he mentally relaxed once his round started to disintegrate, or that he was playing with an injury.

"I tried all the way round - you know me, I don't bag it.

"I feel great but I hit bad shots on a tough day."

Dreadful day

Every aspect of Woods' game seemed to crumble as the Scottish weather finally played a decisive effect on proceedings at Muirfield.

During the opening nine holes, Woods hit just one fairway from the tee and on the one hole where he did, he left the green with a double bogey.

His putting, as it has so far during the tournament, seemed hesitant, with misses from medium and short distances.