Despite physical debilitation that has kept him away from many competitive tournaments over the past year, Tiger Woods managed to break a new record by making his 24th consecutive cut in the Masters. This achievement eluded all other legendary players throughout history. The hilly landscape’s subtle nuances were familiar terrain for Woods, adding to his mystique.
Tough weather conditions, including strong winds that moved sand from the bunkers and buffeted the flags, made it a challenging day. Tiger Woods stayed in command of his game by fading off the tee. Despite his surgically-repaired ankle causing him to walk with care, he succeeded in completing 23 holes, wrapping up the last five from his initial round and all 18 from the second round.
Although his game wasn’t as fluid or rhythmic as in his prime, Woods was still the central focal point. Nevertheless, another player in Woods’ grouping, Max Homa, moved with a focus towards the weekend’s green jacket aspiration. Homa, still chasing his maiden Major victory, secured the 36-hole clubhouse lead on six-under-par 138 after adding a second-round 71 to his initial 67 round. His only top-10 ranking so far arrived at last year’s Open at Royal Liverpool.
Regardless, Woods continued to dominate Homa as all the players battled on a challenging day amongst the pines. Woods’ stoic mental resilience was clear once again despite his evident physical discomfort. His caddie, Lance Bennett, provided helpful support as Woods continuously battled to save par up to the very end, as shown by his 18th move. After a 72 for 145 resulted from a well-executed par-saving putt, it was clear that nothing, not even sand in his eyes from a nearby bunker, could stop Woods.
Woods conveyed his exhaustion after a rigorous day of competition, in which he played 23 holes. However, he acknowledged the positive strides he managed to make alongside Lance. He further expressed his deep affection for playing at this particular course, a privilege he has had since the age of 19. He sincerely misses the years he couldn’t utilise his ability and engage in the unique experience that course offered.
During the competition, Woods had the opportunity to observe Homa closely and complimented his strength and talent. Having competed alongside him at the Open Championship at St Andrews, Woods was impressed by Homa’s consistent and solid performance. He strongly believes that Homa’s wins are only a matter of time, given his remarkable ability in maintaining accuracy in his shots.
Woods was not the sole veteran who secured an impressive performance. Vijay Singh, who is 13 years older than him, also managed to make the cut, marking his first success since 2018. Singh managed his game successfully, particularly with his chip shots, intimately comprehending the workings of the course.
Nonetheless, the day showcased some young talent too, with Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard exceeding expectations in his Masters debut. Despite disagreeing with his techniques, he shot a halfway total of 140, putting him in a promising spot for contention towards the weekend.
He confirmed his excitement for the challenges the competition posed and remained optimistic even when his performance didn’t meet his expectations. The Danish golfer, who was a part of the winning Europe’s Ryder Cup team in Rome the previous year, anticipates the approaching two days with great enthusiasm.
Hojgaard deserves commendation for maintaining his concentration on a day that was rife with elevated scores. Among these was Jordan Spieth’s nine on the 15th par 5 – a hole that had, for the first occasion since 1999, seen more than 10 double-bogeys in the initial two rounds.