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Tiger Woods refused to surrender on his dream of a sixteenth main title after making a file twenty fourth consecutive reduce within the Masters on one other windswept day at Augusta Nationwide.
Woods accomplished 23 holes in additional than seven hours on the course on Friday, a exceptional effort from the injury-ravaged 48-year-old which prompted a standing ovation from the spectators across the 18th inexperienced.
The five-time Masters champion needed to defend his face from sand whipped from the bunkers on the final earlier than tapping in to finish a second spherical of 72 for a midway whole of 1 over par.
That left Woods seven pictures off the lead shared by taking part in associate Max Homa, world primary Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau, who might solely add a 73 to his opening 65.
“It means I’ve an opportunity to win the golf match,” Woods stated.
“I’m proper there. I don’t assume anybody goes to run off and conceal proper now, nevertheless it’s actually bunched. The best way the ball is shifting on the greens, chip pictures are being blown, it’s all you need in a golf course right this moment.”
FRED COUPLES
Requested about his twenty fourth consecutive reduce, Woods – who had shared the file of 23 with Freddie {Couples} and Gary Participant – stated: “I’ve at all times cherished taking part in right here.
“I’ve been in a position to play right here since I used to be 19 years outdated. It’s one of many honours I don’t take flippantly, with the ability to compete.
“The years I’ve missed, I want I used to be in a position to play as a result of there’s such an aura and mystique about taking part in this golf course that, until you might have performed and competed right here, you most likely don’t actually respect.”
Woods was one in every of 27 gamers unable to finish their first rounds on Thursday following a prolonged climate delay, the 15-time main winner masking his first 13 holes in a single beneath par.
Play resumed at 0750 native time (1250BST) on Friday and Woods bogeyed the 14th and 18th to finish a 73 which left him with simply 49 minutes to relaxation, refuel or practise earlier than he obtained his second spherical obtained beneath method.
A rollercoaster entrance 9 consisted of three pars, three bogeys and three birdies, together with an excellent chip-in on the sixth, with a extra sedate again 9 including as much as a battling 72.
“It’s been an extended day,” Woods stated with a smile. “It was combat.”
Requested what it was like taking part in alongside Woods after including a 71 to his opening 67, Homa stated: “It was superior. It truly is a dream to get to play with him right here.
PLAYING WITH TIGER
“I at all times needed to simply watch him hit iron pictures round right here, and I used to be proper up subsequent to him. It was actually cool.
“His quick sport was so good. I don’t assume I can clarify how good among the chip pictures he hit right this moment have been.
“He’s particular. We had a extremely fast turnaround, and if I used to be feeling drained and terrible, I think about he was feeling even worse.
“And on 18, we had sandblasts for 45 seconds, and I circled 5 instances so I didn’t get crushed within the face, and he’s standing there like a statue after which poured it proper within the center.
“So all of the cliches you hear about him and all of the outdated tales about how he’ll grind it out, it was enjoyable to see that in particular person.”
With winds gusting as much as 42mph, the tempo of play was funereal and the penultimate group of Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele took six hours and two minutes to finish 18 holes.
Scheffler added a 72 to his opening 66 and Schauffele returned a second consecutive 72 to stay degree par, however McIlroy struggled to a birdie-free 77 to droop to 4 over.
Defending champion Jon Rahm was a stroke additional again following a 76, with the reduce falling at six over to permit two-time winner Jose Maria Olazabal to make the weekend on the age of 58.
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