AUGUSTA, Ga. — After 18 holes of {golfing} and about as many hours afterward recuperating, Tiger Woods is enjoying once more on the Masters Match.
Woods entered Friday’s second spherical at one-under-par after he shot a 71 on Thursday, which put him right into a tie for tenth by day’s finish.
“I used to be capable of end up within the pink,” Woods stated after his spherical on Thursday. “I’m solely three again. I’m proper the place I should be.”
The problem will solely improve because the week wears on and the competitors, positioned on the topographically difficult Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership, locations larger calls for on Woods and his surgically rebuilt leg.
On Thursday, Woods restricted his crouches to line up putts and appeared to wince when he took a nasty step.
“The strolling isn’t simple; it’s tough,” he stated. “It’s going to be tough for the remainder of my life. That’s simply the best way it’s, however I’m capable of do it.”
As for his play, he discovered the bushes extra typically than he would have favored on tee photographs, and got here up quick repeatedly on his approaches. Some effective placing bailed him out, however enchancment in each these areas could be welcome.
Nonetheless, it appears indeniable that Woods didn’t harm no matter probabilities he has to win. Oddsmakers agreed, dropping his worth from 50-1 to 40-1.
Woods teed off on a windy afternoon at Augusta Nationwide with Joaquín Niemann, who had joined him for Thursday’s spherical. (Shortly earlier than competitors on Friday, Louis Oosthuizen, who performed with the lads on Thursday, withdrew due to an damage.) TV protection begins at 3 p.m. on ESPN in america and on TSN in Canada. Streaming is accessible all day on ESPN+, Paramount+ and Masters.com.
Whereas Woods’s followers can be waiting for areas of concern, they may even be hoping for and savoring the moments of greatness. On Thursday, on the par-3 sixth, Woods drilled his tee shot to 3 ft away, and his birdie took him to inside a stroke of the early lead.
The roar from the group, and the standing ovation he obtained at day’s finish on 18, together with the throngs that adopted his each transfer, have been a reminder that Tigermania is able to explode once more if it will get the possibility.
