GAUGUSTA, GA Tiger Woods has won five major championships, including the Masters. For 683 weeks, or more than 13 years, Woods—an 82-time winner on the PGA Tour—was rated as the best golfer in the world.
Given that Woods hasn’t played much competitive golf in the three years since suffering serious injuries in a car accident in February 2021 and that he now plays with a fused right ankle and back, it’s hard to argue that what the 48-year-old accomplished on Friday isn’t among his legendary career’s most notable moments.
Making his 24th consecutive cut in the 88th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Woods will probably break the tournament record with an even-par 72. Prior to that, he shared the record with Gary Player (1959–82) and Fred Couples (1983–2007). When Woods left the course after 36 holes, he was tied for 28th place and one over par.
With a few golfers remaining on the course, the projected cut was 4 over. Throughout his career, Woods has never failed to make the cut at the Masters.
Woods wasn’t considering a made cut coming into the weekend, even though he has only participated in one complete competitive round in a PGA Tour tournament this season. He is still convinced that he can capture a sixth green jacket. When he was done, he was eight shots behind Bryson DeChambeau, the leader.
That gives me hope for the weekend,” Woods remarked. “Yes, I am present. I could be the one to win the golf competition. I’m done, even though I’m not sure if they’ll all end today. I completed my two rounds. All I need is some food and caffeine to get going.
Without a doubt, Woods faced a battle on Friday. At just before 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, play was stopped after he had finished 13 holes of the first round. He teed off at 7:45 a.m. ET on Friday morning and played the last five holes of his opening round. He was the first player at the practice area. Woods went 1-over 73 in the opening round and made bogeys on the par-4 14th and the par-4 18th.
Woods remarked, “I’m tired,” following the second round. “I haven’t been competing or grinding for a while. It’s been a long day, spanning 23 holes. However, I thought I fought really well with [caddie Lance Bennett] today, and we have a chance.
In the second round, Woods teed off in less than fifty minutes, and his first nine holes were action-packed. On Nos. 3, 6, and 8, he made birdies, and on Nos. 4, 5, and 7, bogeys. At even-par 36, he turned the corner.
On the second nine, Woods’ putter began to perform better, as he made multiple clutch putts to save par. He started the second nine with four consecutive pars, including three at Amen Corner on Nos. 11, 12, and 13.
On the par-4 14th, Woods made his first bogey of the second nine holes. His ball was 150 yards from the pin following a 307-yard drive down the right side of the fairway. His approach was left and long, and the ball stopped about 51 feet from the hole in a crowd of spectators. He putted to two over after missing the par putt after chipping to nine feet.
On the following hole, the par-5, 550-yard 15th, Woods recovered. Woods had 258 yards to the hole following a 292-yard tee shot. About twenty-five feet from the hole, he tore off a three-wood, and his ball made it to the green. His eagle putt came up short of the hole by almost two feet. He made the birdie putt to cut the deficit to one over.
Woods displayed his physical wear from playing 23 holes on the par-4 18th. He trudged up the slope and misdirected his approach shot to the left. About 33 yards from the hole, his ball landed below the left greenside bunker. He made the par putt after pitching the ball to five feet.
I had to stand up and down several times today, but I managed,” Woods remarked. “Knowing how to play this golf course allowed me to get up and down on several of those chip shots because I left it in the ideal location. The only likely exception was the position I claimed on 14. I was in the ideal place for the majority of the ups and downs.
Woods had a great driving game throughout the opening rounds. He consistently hammered drives past Jason Day and Max Homa, his playing companions, and hit 79% of the fairways. Woods hit just 47% of the greens, indicating that his iron game was rusty. Through 36 holes, he made no putts greater than 10 feet.
Woods claimed he was going to harass his good friend Couples about breaking the record via text. Couples, who was 12 over while playing due to a sore back, will not be making the cut.
.This is Woods’ 26th start in the Masters, and his familiarity with the course and his history at Augusta National were vital on a day when gusts of over 30 mph and whirling winds made already challenging shots considerably more dangerous.
Shane Lowry of Ireland, who was 3 over after 36 holes, described the opening two rounds of Augusta National’s golf course as “probably the toughest two days of golf” due to the weather and the course’s firm, fast greens.
Even if you don’t do too much wrong, you might still appear foolish in today’s world, according to Lowry. “If you were to speak in boxing lingo, going up to 18 would have you believe that this was round 12, not round 2. It was difficult.
Woods was one of the golfers who handled the conditions better than most despite his physical limitations. Above all, he appeared delighted to be returning to competitive golf, particularly at Augusta National Golf Club.
Woods remarked, “I’ve always like playing here. Since I was 19, I have been able to play here. Being allowed to compete is one of the honors I take very seriously. I regret not being able to play over the years I have missed because there is a certain aura and mystique about this golf course that you probably won’t really understand unless you have played and competed here.”
Some of Woods’ rivals were aware of his accomplishment. Woods did well enough to compete on the weekend, despite not having played in a professional event since withdrawing from the Genesis Invitational after 24 holes due to the sickness in mid-February.
Former Masters champions Dustin Johnson (13 over), Bubba Watson (10 over), and Jordan Spieth (9 over), as well as the current Open Championship winner Brian Harman (9 over) and Sam Burns (9 over), are among the players who will not make the cut.
“Take a look at what Tiger is doing right now,” amateur Stewart Hagestad remarked after missing the cut in his third Masters tournament (8 over). “The guy is 1-over and has hardly played at all in the past year. That is strange material. That is very amazing.”
Stewart Hagestad, an amateur who missed the cut in his third Masters attempt (8 over), commented, “Just look at what Tiger is doing right now.” The man is 1-over and has hardly played at all in the previous year. That’s strange material. It’s unbelievable.
Homa continued, who is in the greatest position of his career going into the final round of a major tournament at 6 under after 36 holes: “It really is a dream to get to play with him here.” I was standing right next to him, and I’ve been saying all along that I just wanted to watch him hit iron shots around here. It was just amazing.
We had a fairly rapid turnaround, so if I was feeling exhausted and terrible, I can only image how bad some of the chip shots he hit today were. His short game was so excellent. He’s extraordinary.
Woods stated that he is not finished either. He alluded to the possibility of winning another Masters championship earlier this week if “everything comes together.” Even though he still has 36 holes left to play, he still has a lot of work to do.
I’m right there,” Woods said. “I’m only 8 back as of right now. I don’t think anyone is going to run off and hide right now, but it’s really bunched. The way the ball is moving on the greens, chip shots are being blown, it’s all you want in a golf course today.