DUBLIN, Ohio - Jack Nicklaus said goodbye, Jeff Sluman held on to the lead and Tiger Woods started a new cut streak during a momentous second round of the Memorial Tournament.

Nicklaus, the tournament founder and Muirfield Village designer, shot an emotional 77 Friday to miss the cut by six shots, then said it might be his last PGA Tour tournament appearance.

"It will probably close out my golf in the United States in regular tournament golf, more than likely. I may come back here, but I certainly wouldn't plan on it," Nicklaus said after missing the cut by six shots.

Asked if he came to that conclusion recently, Nicklaus said, "I came to that a long time ago."

The proud 65-year-old, with 18 major championships and 73 PGA Tour titles on his resume, said he could no longer stand to play tournament golf if he was not competitive.

After Nicklaus tapped in a short par putt on the final hole, the thousands of fans lining the 18th green gave him a lengthy standing ovation. He hugged playing partner Ernie Els, blew a kiss to the gallery and waved goodbye with both hands.

He plans on playing in next month's British Open and left the door open to return at the Memorial, in the Skins Game, or in a tournament while paired with one of his four sons. He said he was tired of playing the way he has been for a few years, only a shadow of the Golden Bear who once dominated the game.

"When I'm out there, I try to go play golf," he said. "That's what these people came in here to see. They came in to see Jack Nicklaus play golf, as well as 104 other guys. I wanted them to see me, not what I did today."

Earlier, Sluman shot a 1-under par 71 to maintain the one-stroke lead he held after the opening round.

Sluman, who has won six tour events but has never gone wire-to-wire, was at 8-under 136 at the tournament's midpoint.

"I obviously am in a pretty good position. I certainly don't expect to be leading the event," said Sluman, who had two birdies and one bogey. "If you look at the leaderboard, there's a lot of guys out there like at 6 under or 7 under right now. Conditions for scoring are still out there."

Woods backed that up, shooting a 68 to climb into a tie for second with Lucas Glover, Nick O'Hern, Harrison Frazar and Jonathan Kaye.

"To be one back is a good spot," said Woods. "You've just got to plod your way along, keep putting the ball in the right positions to have some putts."

He walked into the scoring trailer and a PGA Tour official welcomed him by saying, "One down, 141 to go."

Woods' 142-tournament cut streak ended at the Byron Nelson Championship two weeks ago.

"It's kind of nice playing on the weekend," he said with a laugh.