Charlotte, N.C ? So much for Tiger Woods wanting the attention to return to his golf.

In a shocking meltdown Friday at the Quail Hollow Championship, Woods matched the worst nine-hole score of his PGA Tour career and wound up with a 7-over 79 to miss a cut for only the sixth time in his 14-year career.

He had three-putt bogeys on consecutive holes. He hit a flop shot that ran over the green and into the water. And he bottomed out on the 15th green with a four-putt double bogey from just over 30 feet.

“It is what it is,” Woods said when asked if rust or mechanics were the culprit. “Whatever it was, it wasn’t good enough.”

Making the performance even more surprising is that Woods was coming off a tie for fourth at the Masters three weeks ago, a remarkable performance considering it was his first competition since a five-month break after being caught cheating on his wife.

The 79 was his second-worst score as a pro behind an 81 that Woods shot in the wind-blown third round of the 2002 British Open at Muirfield when he was going for the Grand Slam. His 43 on the back tied his worst nine-hole score on tour; he also shot 43 at the Bay Hill Invitational three years ago, and the 1996 Tour Championship.

“He’s obviously got things in his mind other than what’s going between the ropes right now,” said British Open champion Stewart Cink, who played with Woods.

Woods finished at 9-over 153, the highest 36-hole total of his career.

Billy Mayfair birdied his final hole for a 4-under 68 and was the 36-hole leader at 8-under 136. He had a one-shot lead over two-time major champion Angel Cabrera, who played in Woods’ group. J.P. Hayes matched the Quail Hollow record with a 64 that put him in the group at 6-under 138 along with Masters champion Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Paul Goydos.

This was Woods’ first time playing at a regular PGA Tour event with public ticket sales, and the crowd was gracious as ever with a few exceptions.

Two fans, including a woman, held thumbs-down as Woods walked off the 15th green. Police also escorted away a fan who apparently heckled Woods as he left the 17th green. A friend of the fan, who declined to give his name, said the fan only said, “No red shirt for you on Sunday.”

GOLF

Tway, Thompson tied

Saucier, Miss. — Bob Tway and 63-year-old Leonard Thompson shot 5-under 67s on Friday to share the first-round lead in the Champions Tour’s inaugural Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic.

Tom Purtzer, David Peoples, Brad Bryant and David Eger opened with 68s at Fallen Oak. Mark O’Meara, coming off his first Champions Tour victory last week with Nick Price in the Legends of Golf team event, was two strokes back at 69 along with Eduardo Romero and Ted Schultz. Price had a 70.

Wie leads in Mexico

Morelia, Mexico — Michelle Wie shot a 5-under 68 on Friday to take the second-round lead in the Tres Marias Championship at 12 under.

Wie, who won her lone LPGA Tour title 51/2 months ago in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, was a stroke ahead of Brittany Lincicome (67) and first-round leader Ai Miyazato (72).

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Oklahoma aide leaving

Norman, Okla. — Add assistant coach Mark Cline’s name to a growing list of people leaving Oklahoma’s basketball program during a massive overhaul. Cline took a similar position at Marshall on Thursday.

Hofstra coach suspended

Hempstead, N.Y. — Hofstra suspended basketball coach Tim Welsh on Friday after learning through media reports that police had charged him with driving while intoxicated earlier in the morning.

School spokeswoman Melissa Connolly said Welsh had been suspended without pay “effective immediately” while the university investigates the charges against him.

Ryan’s contract extended

Madison, Wis. — Wisconsin men’s basketball coach Bo Ryan has received a one-year contract extension, and women’s basketball coach Lisa Stone received a two-year extension.

Ryan has been working under a contract that guarantees him more than $1.25 million per year.

NBA

Source: James wins MVP

Cleveland — LeBron James has joined one of the NBA’s most exclusive clubs. Cleveland’s superstar was voted the league’s MVP for the second straight year, a person familiar with the announcement told the Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the league has not announced the results of the vote.

James averaged 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.6 assists this season.

AUTO RACING

Briscoe wins Kansas pole

Kansas City, Kan. — A shift to the ovals meant a shift in power in the IndyCar Series. One of the last drivers of the day, Australian Ryan Briscoe was the fastest qualifier at Kansas Speedway on Friday, ending Will Power’s bid for a record-tying fourth consecutive pole.

Briscoe had a four-lap average of 212.145 mph and will start on the front row today with defending champion Scott Dixon in the 300-mile race on the 11/2-mile oval.

Defending series champion Dario Franchitti will start on the second row with Hideki Mutoh, who moved up after Dan Wheldon’s time was disallowed for driving under the white line.

Keselowski victorious

Richmond, Va. — Brad Keselowski led most of the last 192 laps and then rallied from fourth in a two-lap sprint to win his second consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series race. The victory allowed Keselowski to begin rebuilding his series points lead, which was cut nearly in half last week after he won at Talladega and his car failed postrace inspection.

Busch takes Richmond pole

Richmond, Va. — Kyle Busch has the pole Friday for tonight’s NASCAR race at Richmond International Raceway with a fast lap at 127.077 mph. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver turned the lap as the 19th of 47 cars attempting to qualify, easily beating David Reutimann for the top spot. Reutimann’s speed was 126.618 mph.

NFL

Favre needs ankle surgery

Eden Prairie, Minn. — Brett Favre is telling ESPN he needs surgery on his left ankle to play another season for the Minnesota Vikings.

Man gets life sentence

Denver — A man convicted of killing Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was sentenced Friday to life in prison plus 1,152 years. Willie Clark was convicted of first-degree murder in the New Year’s Day 2007 drive-by slaying of Williams.

Clark’s sentencing followed a failed emergency appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court by defense attorneys.