Tiger Woods now holds yet another record at The Masters. The five-time champion became the first to make the cut 24 times in a row at The Masters, just 12 months after making a record-equalling 23 cuts to rival Augusta greats Fred Couples and Gary Player.
The first of those 24 began in April 1997, before 17 of the players in this week’s field were even born.
The 24 consecutive Masters cuts have not come in consecutive years. He added wins in 2001, 2002, and 2005 before missing 2014, 2016, and 2017 while recovering from back surgeries. He won the event again in 2019.
Woods completed Friday at a windswept Augusta National with a 36-hole score of one-over-par 145, inside the cut line that later landed at six-over.
A weather delay in Thursday’s opening round meant that Woods was one of 27 players unable to complete their first rounds, with Woods only able to complete 13 holes, meaning he returned at 7:50am to resume the round, hitting two bogeys and three pars to finish at 1-over 73.
The golfing icon then made four birdies and four bogeys in an even-par 72 in a blustery second round, which prompted a standing ovation from the spectators around the green.
It is a remarkable effort for a man whose fitness issues are well documented. Woods had played less than five-and-a-half competitive rounds prior to this week since undergoing ankle surgery in April last year after being forced to withdraw from The Masters during the third round.
He sustained injuries to his legs, ankle and foot in a car crash in early 2021. He has had to completely rebuild his swing with a fused back and fused ankle, but the American seemed comfortable and confident on his feet.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have been able to play this event for all these years,” Woods told ESPN.
“I did miss the cut as an amateur, but as a pro I’ve done well. It’s just an amazing aura that Augusta National has and I’ve been lucky enough coming here since I was 19 years old.
“It’s been a long day,” Woods said. “It was a good fight, we did really well out there and I’m still right there in the ball game with a great chance going into the weekend.
“This golf course will expose any weaknesses you have, the greens are quick right now and this wind is all over the place. It was a great test.”
It is the American trio of Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Max Homa leading the way at The Masters after Woods’ 24th cut. The 27-year-old Scheffler, ranked No. 1 in the world, shot an even-par 72 to share the lead with Homa and DeChambeau at six-under par after 36 holes.
Elsewhere, Rory McIlroy’s hopes of ending a 10-year major drought faltered after a disappointing birdie-less round of 77. Spaniard Jon Rahm’s hopes of defending his Masters title are essentially over after a four-over par round of 76 left him 11 shots back at the halfway stage.