By Frank Malley, PA Chief Sports Writer

Tiger Woods was in philosophical mood after he had plummeted out of contention for his third major of the year with a 10 over par 81.

The world number one had no answer to the wind and rain that swept across Muirfield this afternoon and he slumped to his worst ever score as a professional.

But afterwards he conceded that unpredictable conditions are part and parcel of the Open experience - and admitted his score could easily have been much worse.

He said: "It was a tough day but I tried all the way round and I just couldn't grind anything out - but thank God I was grinding because it could have been a really high number.

"I am sort of disappointed. I am frustrated in the way I was not able to hit the ball today. On top of that I didn't make any puts again.

"This is a tough and difficult golf course with the rough being knee-high and the wind and the rain coming sideways.

"It was raining pretty hard and howling, and I didn't get off to the greatest of starts, and it just kind of continued from there.

"I tried all the way round and I don't bag it. I tried on each and every shot and that's the best I could have shot.

"I hit poor shots on a tough day and that's added up to a pretty high number," he added.

Woods agreed that the morning starters had had a huge advantage over the rest of the field.

"The guys who teed off this morning had a completely different wind. I was watching the television this morning and the guys on the 13th could hold the ball next to the hole with seven and eight irons. Mark (O'Meara) hit a three iron and I ripped a four iron and I didn't get there.

"I went through a lot of gloves, every one I had in my bag - about 12 or 15.

"We all understand that this is just the way the Open championship is.

"The weather is unpredictable and anything can happen, and it has happened, and I am sure it will continue to go that way."