Breaking: Tiger Woods Faces Ultimate Test at the Masters
Tiger Woods Faces Ultimate Test at the Masters
Augusta, Georgia – Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner, entered the opening round of the Masters having played just 24 holes this year. His journey at Augusta National took an unprecedented turn as he faced the daunting task of playing nearly as many holes in a single day.
Seeking to set a Masters record with his 24th consecutive cut, Woods started his quest with a solid yet unspectacular performance on Thursday. He battled his way to one-under par through 13 holes before play was halted due to darkness.
The 48-year-old golf legend would resume his opening round by completing the remaining five holes before seamlessly transitioning into his second round, comprising a full 18 holes, on one of golf’s most challenging courses.
Despite enduring a near-fatal car crash in 2021 that nearly resulted in the amputation of his right leg, Woods displayed resilience and determination. He reassured observers that his body was holding up, despite undergoing ankle surgery the previous year.
Woods expressed his readiness to tackle the demanding schedule, stating, “The body is OK, we’ve got some work to do yet tonight.” Reflecting on his performance at Augusta, he added, “It was nice to finish up 13.”
Prepared for the physical and mental demands, Woods outlined his approach for the day ahead. “We’re going to warm up and just kind of head down there and start our round,” he said, anticipating a seamless transition between rounds with minimal downtime.
Although stormy weather delayed the start of the year’s first major by 2-1/2 hours, conditions improved as Woods teed off in the afternoon alongside Max Homa and Jason Day. Despite the challenging weather earlier in the day, Woods capitalized on the favorable conditions, starting his round with a birdie at the first hole, a feat he had accomplished only once before in 1999.
Reflecting on his strong start, Woods commented, “I hit a nice three-wood off of one, hit a nice little eight-iron in there about 10, 12 feet and made the putt.”
As Woods continues his remarkable journey at Augusta, Bryson DeChambeau leads the Masters after an impressive opening round of seven-under 65.
