Without Tiger Woods, the Masters just wouldn't have the same feel. And for a while, it seemed as if that's exactly how this Masters would go. It felt as if the final two rounds would go on without Woods.
That's because he had a fairly miserable first day, finishing tied for 36th at 1-over 73 and eight strokes behind Day 1 leader Bryson DeChambeau.
But Friday, things went quite differently, and Woods is now in line to break the tournament record with his 24th straight made cut. If so, it will come courtesy of his even-par 72 on Friday.
"It means I have a chance going into the weekend," Woods said, via ESPN. "I'm here. I have a chance to win the golf tournament. I don't know if they're all going to finish today, but I'm done. I got my two rounds in. Just need some food and some caffeine, and I'll be good to go."
Woods, 48, has played just one competitive round on the PGA Tour this season. On Friday, he walked off the course at 1 over par and tied for 28th.
"I'm tired," he said after the second round. "I've been out for a while, competing, grinding. It's been a long 23 holes, a long day. But [caddie Lance Bennett] and I really did some good fighting today, and we've got a chance."
Basically, it's not been a couple of historic days for the legend — but it might just be good enough to keep him alive in the first of the four majors this season.
"I was forced to get up and down a few times today, and I was able to do that," Woods said. "A lot of those chip shots I was able to get up and down because I left it in the perfect spot, and that's understanding how to play this golf course. Probably the only exception was the spot I put myself in on 14. Most of the up-and-downs, I was in a perfect spot."
