Tiger Woods ties record with 23rd straight made cut at Masters, shoots 1-over in second round

Tiger Woods made his 23rd consecutive cut at the Masters on Saturday, tying the tournament record held by Gary Player and Fred Couples. He wrapped up his weather-delayed second round Saturday morning with a score of 1-over 73 to stand at 3-over for the tournament. Here’s what you need to know:

Second-round play started Friday but was delayed due to dangerous weather conditions. In the afternoon, heavy winds caused three trees to fall to the left of the 17th hole. No injuries were reported, according to Augusta National.
Woods’ round continued on the 12th hole Saturday. After a bogey on the seventh and birdie on the eighth hole Friday, he birdied the 15th hole before bogeying the 17th and 18th holes Saturday to stand at 3-over for the tournament.
Woods finished the round in a tie for 49th place, right above the projected cut line. Then Justin Thomas bogeyed the 17 to put the cut line at +3, putting Woods in for the weekend.
Third-round action was suspended Saturday due to inclement weather conditions. Woods was playing his eighth hole when the horn sounded. He’s 9-over for the tournament (6-over for his round).

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

Woods’ weekend continues

It was 8 a.m., in a steady rain, with temperatures in the 40s, and Tiger Woods had work to do. Entering the morning at 2-over with seven holes to play, his consecutive Masters’ cut streak of 22, one shy of the record, was in question. And in front of him stood one of the toughest shots in golf — the tee shot on Augusta National’s par-3 12th hole.

Woods stiffed it inside 10 feet. Made par.

In conditions that were both soft, but brutal, Woods knew he had the par-5 15th sitting as an opportunity to get inside the cut line. But then came a familiar sight from 10 years ago. Woods hit an approach that was so good it was too good. He hit the flagstick, sending the ball caroming away. This time, it at least stayed on the green, and Woods made it count. He rolled in a birdie to move to 1-over and inside the cut line.

Following a par on 16, Woods found trouble on 17, missing right off the tee into the pine straw. He couldn’t pull off an up-and-down and settled for bogey.

Then came 18. Woods’ tee shot was so bad it made you question whether he wanted to play 36 more holes in these conditions. He is 47 years old and walking around on reconstructed legs. A dead pull off the tee found the left trees. Woods punched out from the pine straw, hit a spinny approach to the front of 18 green, and, two putts later, left bogey and a 3-over finish.

It appeared, for a moment, the cut streak was coming to an end. Woods was visibly frustrated by the bogey-bogey finish. He was also dripping wet.

Then everything changed. Justin Thomas, a Woods friend and confidant, bogeyed the 17th, moving the cut line to 3-over. He would go on to miss the cut, while Woods landed a date with 36 more holes.

Afterward, in a brief gathering with media, Woods said, “I’ve always loved this golf course, and I love playing this event. … I hope I get a chance to play two more rounds.”

He does. — Quinn

36-hole total scoring average by wave
Late/early tee times: 144.4
Early/late tee times: 146.8
2.4 stroke differential
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) April 8, 2023

Backstory

Starting in 1997, Woods has now made 23 consecutive cuts at the Masters. Couples (1983 to 2007) and Player (1959 to 1982) also share the all-time record of 23 consecutive Masters cuts.

Ongoing rain Saturday morning made for difficult playing conditions, particularly on the greens for golfers. Play halted for the day at 3:15 p.m. ET.

Play was suspended at 4:22 p.m. ET due to inclement weather Friday. The grounds were evacuated. The suspension occurred after an earlier weather delay at 3:07 p.m. ET, which lasted approximately 20 minutes.