Vaughn Taylor left Augusta National Golf Club on Friday scratching his head. Where did it all go wrong?

Vaughn Taylor walks to his ball after missing a putt on No. 10, one of four holes where he shot above par in the second round. He ranked fourth on the list of most putts Friday. (Annette M. Drowlette/Staff)

Statistically, he put together a solid second round, hitting a majority of greens and fairways. A faulty putter led to a second-round 76, though, and an early departure from the Masters Tournament.

Taylor, of Evans, finished at 7-over-par for 36 holes, four shots below the cut line.

"I'm just flat out not scoring," he said. "It's just a three-putt, bad wedge shot, bad tee shot. It's just something. I don't know."

Tied for 32nd on the PGA Tour in putting average, Taylor struggled on the greens. Despite hitting 13 of 18 greens in regulation, Taylor used 34 putts -- only three players had more putts in their round. He finished with 63 for two rounds. Poor putting was one reason he played the par-5 holes in 3-over-par for two rounds.

"I felt good over the ball," he said. "They just didn't go in."

Taylor got off to a rough start with a three-putt for bogey from 40 feet on the opening hole. He fell to 5-over par after a bogey at No. 10.

Taylor rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt at the par-3 12th, his lone birdie of the day. He then striped a drive on the par-5 13th hole, but he decided to lay up after finding water the previous day. After leaving himself 63 yards to the pin, Taylor flew the green with a wedge and failed to get up and down for par.

"I got too close to the green," he said. "I just hit a terrible wedge shot."

Taylor will play next week in the Verizon Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, S.C. He then plans to take a week off before playing in the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, N.C., then The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., the following week.

"I've just got to work," he said. "I feel like my game is close. I've just got to get the ball in the hole. That's really been a battle for me all year."

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHT: Taylor rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-3 12th hole for his lone birdie of the round. HE SAID: "I'm just flat out not scoring. It's just three-putt, bad wedge shot, bad tee shot. It's just something. I don't know. I can't put a finger on it." THEY SAID: Taylor's father, Jack: "He had a good round. He just couldn't get the ball in the hole. He has nothing to be ashamed of."