Ohh nooo!!: Tiger Woods’ Masters Struggles Continue as Third Round Unravels
Tiger Woods’ Masters Struggles Continue as Third Round Unravels
After showcasing promising performances in the first two rounds at Augusta National this week, Tiger Woods faced a significant setback on day three of the Masters tournament.
The five-time Masters champion had initially made history by securing his 24th consecutive cut at Augusta, setting a new record for the most cuts made in tournament history. However, his remarkable achievement quickly faded into the background as he endured his worst round at the Masters, carding a 10-over 82 to plummet down the leaderboard.
This round also marked his lowest score in a Major as a professional, occurring in his 99th round at Augusta since his debut as an amateur in 1995. It was his seventh score of 80 or higher on the PGA Tour and his third round in the 80s in a Major, with his last occurrence during the 2015 US Open when he shot an 80.
Despite starting the day with three pars, Woods’ round took a downturn as he struggled with three bogeys, two doubles, and just one birdie to complete his first nine. The consecutive double bogeys raised concerns about Woods’ mobility, which appeared increasingly limited as the round progressed.
His second nine didn’t yield much improvement as he accumulated five bogeys and only managed one birdie, effectively dashing any hopes of contending for the title this week.
After his second round on Friday, Woods had expressed confidence, stating, “It means I have a chance going into the weekend. I’m here. I have a chance to win the golf tournament.” However, his fortunes took a sharp turn as he transitioned from one-over in his first two rounds to seven-over midway through his third, falling 14 shots behind the leader, Scottie Scheffler.
Woods has been grappling with several long-term injuries since a serious car crash in 2021, which has significantly impacted his ability to walk the course and swing with ease. Last year, he was compelled to withdraw from the Masters during the third round due to a plantar fasciitis injury, which ultimately required surgery.
Following a two-and-a-half-hour suspension of play on Thursday, Woods faced the challenge of navigating 23 holes on a grueling, windy Friday – a task that may have started to take its toll on his performance.
