Woods pragmatic as he posts career-worst Masters round
This year’s Masters at Augusta National has been a memorable major for Tiger Woods, for both better and worse.
After setting a record Friday by making the weekend cut at the Masters for the 24th consecutive time, Woods made a more dubious mark Saturday, shooting his worst-ever round in Augusta, Georgia, with his 10-over 82 third round.
“I didn’t have a very good warmup session, and I kept it going all day today,” Woods said, while also acknowledging that Friday had worn him out physically.
The five-time Augusta champion enjoyed a decent start with three straight pars, before things began to unravel on Hole 4. He rallied for a birdie on 5 before carding a bogey, consecutive double bogeys, and then another bogey to put him at 42 through nine.
His second half unfolded much the same way, with a bogey on 12 preceding a birdie on 13, and then four straight bogeys before a par on 18.
“I just hit the ball into all the places that I know I shouldn’t hit it,” Woods said. “And I missed a lot of putts. Easy, makeable putts. I missed a lot of them.
“It just got going the wrong way, and when I had opportunities to flip it, I didn’t,” he explained.
Woods, who made the cut at last year’s Masters, but pulled out before the end of the rain-interrupted third round, citing plantar fasciitis, immediately addressed concerns of a repeat after his disastrous round, saying he’d be back for Sunday’s final round.
“The club has been awesome,” he said, adding: “My team will get me ready. It will be a long night and a long warm-up session, but we’ll be ready.”
Woods managed a 1-over-par score through the first 36 holes to set his record on Friday, breaking a tie he held with Gary Player and Fred Couples.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have been able to play this event for all these years,” Woods said. “I did miss a cut when I was an amateur, but as a pro, I’ve done well. It’s just an amazing aura that this place has.”
This tournament is Woods’ first appearance since withdrawing from the Genesis Invitational in February with flu-like symptoms, and his first major in a year
But Woods, who had declared himself in with a chance of taking a sixth green jacket to match the record of Jack Nicklaus on Friday, had fallen into a tie for 52nd when he signed his scorecard Saturday.
Woods delivered third- and fourth-round scores of 78 in his comeback following severe leg injuries suffered in a 2021 car crash, injuries that led to right ankle surgery last April and appeared to hamper him at times on Saturday.
His final round Sunday will be his 100th at the Masters. Woods vowed not to withdraw and to complete 72 holes.