Weekend warrior
Tiger positioned to make Masters cut for 24th consecutive time
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods is in position break the Masters record for most consecutive cuts made at 24. He’s 1-under par through 13 holes of his opening round, which was suspended due to darkness on Thursday as a result of 2 ¹/₂-hour weather delay for thunderstorms.
So, Woods, while six shots off the lead held by Bryson DeChambeau, faces having to play 23 holes on Friday — the final five of his first round followed by 18 for his second round.
He got his day started with a bit of a rarity, a birdie on the first hole, one that he has often struggled with over the years. It was only the second time Woods has opened with birdie on No. 1, and this is his 26th Masters.
“I don’t remember the other time, to be honest with you,’’ he said. “I hit a nice 3-wood off of 1, hit a nice little 8-iron in there about 10, 12 feet and made the putt. Then quickly hit the next one almost in a hazard, played lefty, got out there, and boy, I hit a nice pitch from over the green. That was nice.’’
Woods was referring to No. 2, the usually birdie-able par-5, on which he had to scramble for par.
“The wind was all over the place,’’ he said of the conditions. “It was one of the most tricky days that I’ve ever been a part of. It was hard to get a beat not only on what direction it was going, but the intensity, and it kept switching all over the place. It was a very difficult day.’’
Asked about restarting his round on No. 14 at 7:45 a.m. on Friday, Woods said, “We’re going to warm up and just kind of head down there and start our round, and I think the flow would be pretty much almost like between 20 and 30 minutes in between rounds, so it’ll be a natural flow from the finish of the first round and continuation of the second.’’
He said his body was feeling “OK.’’ Woods is currently tied with three-time champion Gary Player, who made 23 straight cuts beginning in 1959, and 1992 winner Fred Couples, whose own streak lasted until 2007.
Woods has played just one tournament this year — lasting only 24 holes at the Genesis Invitational before withdrawing with the flu in February. Yet the 48-year-old Woods declared on Tuesday before the tournament, “If everything comes together, I think I can get one more,” referring to a sixth green jacket, which would tie Jack Nicklaus’ record.
He played with Max Homa, who’s 4-under par, and Jason Day, who’s even par, four groups from the final pairing.