Tiger Woods reaches the Masters Cut for a record 24th consecutive time

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — A howling gust — the kind that wreaked havoc at Augusta National all day — hit the 18th green just as Tiger Woods lined up another testy putt. Fine particles of sand emerged from the pearly white bunkers and whipped across the slippery green surface.

A cadet’s hat was torn off. Woods quickly turned away, avoiding the potentially painful daggers in his eyes.

Do not worry.

It was just a windy respite on the way to another piece of Masters history on Friday.

When the explosion subsided enough to look again, Woods made a 5-foot putt to cap an even par 72, allowing him to make the cut for a record 24th consecutive time.

Of course, his sights were set on a much bigger goal: a record sixth green jacket.

Woods surpassed the record he shared with three-time champion Gary Player, who qualified for the weekend 23 times in a row starting in 1959, and 1992 winner Fred Couples, whose streak lasted until ‘in 2007.

“I’m here. I have a chance to win the golf tournament,” said Woods, who was 1-over-145 through 36 holes and seven shots in. “I made my two rounds. I just need some food and some caffeine, and I’ll be good to go.”

It was a grueling day for the five-time Masters champion, especially since the 48-year-old suffered numerous injuries, countless surgeries and a devastating car accident that nearly cost him his right leg.

Woods was back on the course before sunrise to complete the final five holes of his first round, which was cut short by darkness after Thursday morning’s storms delayed the start of the tournament by 2 1/2 hours.

He made a few bogeys to complete a 73, then had less than an hour to rest for 18 more holes.

Remarkably, he played just one fewer hole on Friday than his competitive total through the first three months of the year, his patched-up body no longer capable of handling a regular schedule of events.

Even with such limited preparation, there is something about Augusta National that still brings out the best in Woods.

“Yeah, I’m tired.” I’ve been out for a while, competing, grinding. It was a long 23 holes, a long day,” he conceded. “But Lance (Bennett, his caddy) and I had some really good fights today, and we have a chance.”

Stewart Hagestad, an amateur who missed the cut, marveled at Woods’ performance.

“The guy has barely played in the last calendar year, and he has 1 over,” Hagestad said. “It’s alien stuff. It’s incredible.”

As the crowd around the 18th green roared like it was Sunday, Woods’ never-say-die attitude turned into a huge smile as soon as the round ended. He hugged playing partner Jason Day and gave Bennett another big squeeze before a triumphant stroll back to the clubhouse, patrons lining ropes four and five to applaud his efforts.

“It was awesome,” said Max Homa, who completed the trio with Woods and Day. “I always wanted to watch him hit iron shots around here, and I was right next to him. It was very cool. His short game was so good. I don’t think I can explain how good some of the chip shots he hit today were.

Homa, tied for the lead with Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler at 6-under 138, was happy to cede the spotlight to Woods.

“He’s special,” Homa said. “We had a very quick turnaround, and if I felt tired and horrible, I imagine he felt even worse.”

Homa was impressed more than anything by the way Woods kept his composure on the 18th green when the sand blew away with gusts approaching 40 mph for the second day in a row.

“We had sand being thrown for 45 seconds, and I turned around five times so as not to get my face smashed, and he stood there like a statue and then poured it right down the middle,” he said. Homa said. “All the clichés you hear about him and all the old stories about how he’s going to get through this, it was fun to see that in person.”

Woods was as precise as ever off the tee as a Masters professional, hitting 25 of 28 fairways in the first two rounds. But one wayward approach after another left him making all sorts of messes.

Fortunately for Woods, he knew where to miss and continued to make nifty chips and clutch putts to keep his score safely above the cut line, which ended at 6 over.

“I had to go up and down a few times today, and I was able to do it,” Woods said. “I was able to hit a lot of those chip shots up and down because I left it in the perfect spot, and that means understanding how to play on this golf course.”

Woods went through a stretch of six straight holes before the turn where he only made birdies or bogeys, but he settled things down a bit on the back nine with just one bogey at the 14th – where his approach from 150 yards navigated through the gallery. behind the green – and a two-putt birdie at the par-5 15th after clearing the pond with two resounding shots.

Woods entered the weekend facing a daunting deficit, needing a comeback of near-record proportions to win the tournament. Jack Burke Jr. had the biggest rally through 36 holes, coming back from eight shots to win the 1956 Masters.

Even though history is against him, Woods still believes he has a chance to tie Jack Nicklaus’ record of half a dozen titles.

“I’m here,” Woods said. “I don’t think anyone is going to run and hide right now.”