(CNN) -- Tiger Woods is in danger of missing the cut for the second straight tournament after struggling to a one-under 71 in the first round of the Buick Open.
Woods lines up a putt during his first round 71 at Warwick Hills.
It left him eight strokes behind early leader Steve Lowery at the £5 million event and in 95th place.
The halfway qualification mark is set to fall at three or four under and Woods has his work cut out to avoid a repeat of his failure at the British Open two weeks ago where he went home early.
"Probably one of the worst putting days I've ever had," Woods was quoted on the official PGA Tour Web site. "It was just terrible."
Woods has never missed the cut twice in a row as a professional and will be looking to the second round at Warwick Hills to mount an improvement.
"Obviously I'm not going to get it back in one day," Woods said. "Guys are going to continue to go low. It's going to be 20-plus (under par) probably to win. So I've got to get it back over the next three days and hopefully I can.
"I not only have to play well to make the cut, I've got to play well to get myself back in contention."
Lowery charged home in a course record 29 for the front nine for a nine-under 63 to lead Australian John Senden by a stroke.
Fellow Australian James Nitties, South Korean Y.E. Yang and Americans Vaughn Taylor and Brian Vranesh are two shots further back.
Woods has won three tournaments on the PGA tour since his return to action this year after knee surgery, but his season hit a low point at Turnberry where he missed the halfway cut by a shot, with Stewart Cink going on to win the third major of the season.
Cink is not playing at the Buick Open after claiming his first major at the British Open.
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