Tiger Woods sets an Augusta Masters record behind three-way tie for lead

Fifteen-time major winner Tiger Woods played 23 holes on Friday at the Masters, as many has he had done competitively in all of 2024 so far, to set a record for the most cuts made consecutively at Augusta National and break a standing three-way tie with South African legend Gary Player and good friend Fred Couples at the venue.

The 48-year-old, who has won the Masters five times in all, will enter the weekend rounds in a share of 22nd place on 1 over 145 (73-72), seven strokes behind a three-way tie for the lead between Americans Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa, still hoping to add a sixth Green Jacket to his collection.

Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard (67-73) was fourth on 4 under 140, while Cam Davis (69-72) and Collin Morikawa (71-70) of the US were tied for fifth place ahead of Swedish rookie Ludvig Aberg in seventh and a seven-way battle for eighth place.

“I'm here,” Woods said on Friday. “I have a chance to win the golf tournament.” The winner of 82 PGA Tour titles did not play the Masters in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2021 thanks to various injuries, accidents and surgeries.

Tiger added, “I'm right there. 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.

“Yeah, I'm tired. I've been out for a while, competing, grinding. It's been 23 holes, a long day. But I really did some good fighting today, and we've got a chance.”

Woods played 13 holes on the weather-shortened first day for a 1 over par 73, returning early on Friday to first complete the remaining five holes, and then swinging into his second round almost straightaway. A battling level par 72 was the result as winds blew through the day, going up to 35 miles an hour on occasion, and big names fell to the conditions.

In all, 59 professionals and one amateur made the cut at 6-over 150 from a field of 84 professionals and five amateurs. It was the highest number at a major since the 2020 US Open (+6) and the highest at the Masters since 2017 (also 6 over par 150).

After 36 holes, only eight players had sub-par scores against their names. Eight others shot 80 or more and those left on the sidelines included Sergio Garcia (72-79), Dustin Johnson (78-79), Jordan Speith (79-74), Justin Thomas (72-79) and Viktor Hovland (71-81).

Meanwhile, Indian-Americans Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala handled the conditions well to make the 36-hole cut. Texas Open winner Bhatia, 22, shot 72 and 75 for a share of 30th place while Theegala (74-74) was T-35, despite the trauma of a triple bogey in his incomplete first round

Bhatia, playing his first Masters, said after play ended on Friday, “The wind was tough. Certain lies, there's not a lot of options to hit it close. It's a pretty tough stretch from 10, 11, 12, and I haven't taken advantage of the par-5s really. So, yeah, it's a great test, though. It's fun. It's been a crazy week or so. Still just going through everything.”

He added, “You've got to hit it in the right spots. I've short-sided myself a lot, but my short game has been excellent this week. It's just hard to kind of judge the winds. You could hit a great spot with what happens out here. It's really tough for how firm the greens are getting.”

Ahead of them, Korea’s Byeong Hun An was the best-placed Asian in the field and hanging on for dear life to anything that he could, including his cap. An produced a fighting 73 to add to his opening 70 for a share of eighth place five strokes behind the leaders.

Winner in 2021, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and An’s compatriots, Joohyung Kim and Si Woo Kim made the 36-hole cut right on the number while Masters debutant Ryo Hisatsune and Sungjae Im failed to advance into the weekend.