( CNN ) -- If Tiger Woods fails in his double bid to retain the Bay Hill title and regain his world No . 1 ranking this weekend , then it 's a fair bet he 'll be ruing his late lapses on the opening two days . The 14-time major winner surrendered two strokes at the last two holes on Thursday , and lost three at the final three on Friday to be four off the lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational . `` I played way better than what I scored today , '' Woods said on the PGA Tour website . `` I missed a couple of short ones , and I had a rough finish . '' It was another frustrating finish for the 37-year-old , who started the tournament in high spirits after publicly acknowledging his relationship with skiing star Lindsey Vonn . He last held the No . 1 ranking in late October 2010 , having occupied it for 281 weeks before a marital scandal that ended in in his divorce . Added to injury problems , he dropped as low as 58th in the standings before resurrecting his career with three titles last year and two more this season . Woods started the second round with a promising birdie and then eagled the par-five sixth hole before picking up further shots at 11 and 13 . However , it all went wrong as he bogeyed 16 , 17 and 18 to drop to a tie for seventh place on five-under-par 139 , having carded 70 after his opening 69 . `` The good news is we 've got 36 holes to go , '' said Woods , who seeking to join Sam Snead as the only player to win the same tournament eight times . `` Certainly four shots can be made up . `` I 've made my share of mistakes on the last few holes the last couple days . I need to clean that up . '' Alongside him were fellow former world No . 1 Vijay Singh and fellow American Mark Wilson , who both moved up from 15th overnight with their 68s . Bill Haas joined overnight leader Justin Rose at the top , with both on 135 after shooting 66 and 70 respectively . Englishman Rose dropped a shot at his final hole , while American Haas had earlier finished strongly with an eagle at 16 -- emulating Woods ' opening-day effort . Haas , whose wife is due to deliver their first child in two months , is battling neck pain he suffered reaching down to pick up a towel at the Northern Trust Open . `` We should call it a sore neck , not an injury . When you 're playing poorly , it hurts , and when you 're playing well , it does n't hurt , '' he said . John Huh , born in New York to South Korean parents , dropped to third on 136 after a 69 , while fellow U.S. players Ken Duke , J.J Henry and Jimmy Walker were tied for fourth on 138 . Major champions Ernie Els , Phil Mickelson , Webb Simpson , Lucas Glover and Trevor Immelman all missed the halfway cut along with FedEx Cup series leader Brandt Snedeker . Mickelson , who will be seeking his fourth Green Jacket at Augusta next month , shot his worst round at Bay Hill -- 79 -- as he battles to regain the form he showed in winning at Phoenix last month . `` From where it was a few months ago , where I felt so good and my ball-striking was some of the best I 've ever had , it is a little surprising , '' the 42-year-old lefthander said . It was Snedeker 's first start in a month following a rib injury , and he struggled with successive 76s .
Tiger Woods two shots off lead in Bay Hill title defense after more late mistakes . He dropped two strokes at end of opening round and another four on Friday . Woods tied for second as Bill Haas joins Justin Rose at top of leaderboard . Ernie Els , Phil Mickelson and Phil Mickelson among those who miss the cut .