Tiger Woods bogeys four holes in second round at Augusta; Louis Oosthuizen withdraws
Tiger Woods handed his first take a look at on the 86th Masters event with flying colours.
In his first aggressive spherical for the reason that 2020 November Masters, and fewer than 14 months after a near-fatal automotive accident, Woods put collectively a formidable spherical of 1-under-par 71 on Thursday to start Friday’s second spherical simply 4 photographs off the lead.
Woods had been scheduled to compete in a bunch with South African Louis Oosthuizen and Chilean Joaquin Niemann, scheduled to start out at 1:41 p.m. ET, however Oosthuizen withdrew from the event due to an damage.
Sungjae Im of South Korea set the pace on Thursday by firing a 5-under-par 67. Australian Cameron Smith is alone in second place, one stroke again.
Nonetheless, all eyes have been on Woods and his return to motion on the hallowed grounds of Augusta Nationwide. Now, the query is whether or not the five-time Masters champion can proceed his momentum into Spherical 2, and make the minimize.
Woods in free fall
One concern for Tiger Woods by way of the primary three holes of his second spherical is that the one factor that was his saving grace Thursday — his putter — is faltering. Woods bogeyed No. 3, marking his second dropped stroke by way of the primary three holes of his second spherical. That he had only a seven-foot putt to save lots of par however in the end missed might be an omen of extra struggles to return.
That was solely magnified when Woods did not capitalize on the primary par-3 of the day. Woods’ tee shot at No. 4 landed brief and on his second shot, he simply missed a slope that might’ve carried the ball nearer to the pin. As a substitute, it rolled again and left him with a difficult 30-foot par putt that he additionally left brief.
It solely received worse for Woods, whose tee shot at No. 5 sailed proper into the patrons. After Woods received again on the green, he left himself a troublesome however manageable 11-foot putt for par. However he spun this one too far. That now has Woods at 4-over par and 4 bogeys by way of 5 holes.
Woods within the seashore, once more
Tiger Woods pulled out driver on No. 2 and despatched it to the center of the proper fairway bunker for the second consecutive gap. On his second shot, he did nicely to push it up the green, leaving it 109 yards from the pin. Downwind to the again pin, Tiger’s method landed proper in the midst of the inexperienced, however he missed his birdie attempt from 26 toes for a tap-in par.
— Adam Woodard, Golfweek
Woods’ second spherical begins in bunker, with a bogey
Tiger Woods’ tee shot off the primary gap discovered the proper bunker alongside the green, persevering with the development from Thursday’s play: He isn’t making dire errors, however his mishits are making issues harder. His method ended up past the inexperienced, and after an honest chip left him in place to save lots of par, he two-putted for an opening-hole bogey, dropping him to even-par and a tie for seventeenth.
Woods has now hit solely 9 of 19 greens in regulation.
Sungjae Im falling down the leaderboard
After a stellar first spherical and begin to his second, Korean golfer Sungjae Im has hit his first tough patch of the event. He opened the day with the lead and had no less than a share of it by way of the entrance 9. Im climbed all the best way to 5-under par after a birdie at No. 3.
However then, Im posted bogeys in two of his first three after the flip, at Nos. 10 and 12 to drop him to 3-under par and a tie for second. Im was the runner up on the 2020 Masters.
Dustin Johnson faltering simply earlier than the flip
After a pleasant surge to start out his second spherical, Dustin Johnson has fallen sufferer to sloppy play simply earlier than making the flip.
Johnson had reached 4-under par by way of six holes, however then bogeyed two of his subsequent three, at Nos. 7 and 9. Johnson’s tee shot on No. 9 was nicely left and his method landed within the bunker earlier than he pitched out, aiming nicely left of the outlet. Now at 2-under par, Johnson, the 2020 Masters champion, is in a tie for seventh place.
Oosthuizen withdraws as a result of damage
South African golfer Louis Oosthuizen has withdrawn from the Masters as a result of an damage, chairman of the competitors committees James B. Hyler Jr. stated Friday in a press release.
Oosthuizen, 39, struggled by way of his opening spherical Thursday, capturing 4-over par. Oosthuizen was competing in his 14th Masters. His highest end on the event was in 2012, when he misplaced to eventual champion Bubba Watson in a playoff.
Dustin Johnson, others making cost
Few have gotten off to good begins on the second day of the Masters, however Charl Schwartzel and Bubba Watson are shifting nearer to the leaders.
Each former champions are at 2-under for the spherical, whereas Dustin Johnson, the 2020 Masters winner, is at 4-under for the event after his birdie on the par 3 4th gap. Jon Rahm, ranked No. 2 on the planet can be off to a quick begin, as he birdied his first two holes and sits at even par.
First spherical chief tees off, bogeys first gap
Sungjae Kim, who entered the clubhouse as the primary spherical chief on the Masters after capturing a 5-under 67, started his second spherical inside the final hour.
On the primary gap, Kim bogeyed and is now tied for the lead at 4-under par with Cameron Smith, who begins his spherical at 1:30 p.m. ET.
What’s the minimize line on the Masters?
All eyes can be on the leaderboard as the highest 50 and ties make the minimize on the Masters. In keeping with the PGA Tour’s DataGolf analysis, the cutline was projected at 2-over. After the primary spherical, there have been 59 gamers at +2 or higher (T43).
Final 12 months, Dustin Johnson did not make the minimize (74-75) after successful the Masters with a file 20-under-par in November 2020.
Ch- ch- modifications
Do not be fooled by the clear, sunny skies. The climate goes to make fairly an impression on the second spherical of the Masters.
Wind gusts of between 20 and 30 mph are anticipated this afternoon at Augusta Nationwide. That can have an effect on the flight of the ball, in fact, but in addition make it powerful to evaluate distance. A 180-yard shot performs loads completely different when the wind is howling.
The fairways and greens are additionally going to dry out, making them firmer and quicker. Expertise is at all times at a premium on the Masters, however these sort of climate circumstances will solely make it extra crucial.
“Typically, particularly round right here, it is actually exhausting to get a beat on should you get a variety of crosswinds. Is it serving to a bit of bit, or is it hurting a bit of bit?” Dustin Johnson, the 2020 Masters champion, stated after ending his spherical Thursday. “Which makes a giant distinction round right here since you actually should be spot on along with your distances and iron photographs.”
Brennan: Woods has magical moments in Masters return
AUGUSTA, Ga. — One thing was within the air, a murmur at first, a rush of sound far-off from the primary tee, rising louder by the second. A whole lot of heads turned. The galleries have been as giant as they may ever be at Augusta Nationwide, packed 20-25 deep, ready for one individual: Tiger Woods.
Lower than 14 months earlier, he crashed his SUV and thought he may lose his proper leg or by no means stroll once more. Now, right here he was, striding confidently, albeit with a persistent limp, in entrance of an enormous Thursday morning viewers to start his first official spherical of golf since he final teed off right here within the November 2020 Masters.
The 46-year-old Woods, who a 12 months in the past was within the midst of spending three consecutive months in a hospital mattress, was on his strategy to an impressive opening spherical on the Masters, breaking par, ending at one-under 71.
There was only one conclusion to draw from this remarkable sports moment: Tiger is simply so good at this and cares a lot about it that he can do it, and do it very nicely, on a rebuilt proper leg.
— Christine Brennan
Tiger scrambles to 1-under 71, sits simply 4 photographs off the lead
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods started his 2022 Masters marketing campaign with a 1-under 71 on Thursday, aided by numerous par saves, together with his ultimate putt from 10 toes on the 18th inexperienced.
In his first aggressive spherical of golf for the reason that horrific single-car accident that just about value him his proper leg, Woods seemed snug as he methodically labored his means round Augusta Nationwide, solely grimacing as soon as after yanking his tee shot into the timber on No. 9.
Woods made birdies on Nos. 6, 13 and 16, the place he set free the primary fist pump of the day on the par 3 after canning a 30-footer. His two bogeys got here on the par-5 eighth and par-4 14th. The 15-time main champion hit simply half of his fairways and greens and nonetheless managed to attain beneath par.
— Adam Woodard, Golfweek
Armour: Woods’ data of Augusta an enormous benefit
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Gratifying because it was for Tiger Woods to listen to that acquainted roar as he walked as much as the 18th inexperienced, it had to have scared the bejeezus out of Sungjae Im, Cameron Smith and everybody else on the leaderboard.
Give the 15-time main champion a chance, particularly at Augusta Nationwide, and odds are fairly good he’ll make you remorse it.
Woods is lurking after his first round of the Masters. Credit score him, definitely. He made spectacular par saves on Nos. 1, 9 and 18, in addition to a pleasant up-and-down on 11, to complete the day at 1-under.
However these forward of him opened the door for Woods, too. Im had an opportunity to get to six beneath, however his shot out of a greenside bunker on 18 hit the again of the cup and caromed off. Smith double-bogeyed 18, going from 6 beneath for the day to 4.
— Nancy Armour
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Masters 2022 updates: Woods has slow start; Oosthuizen withdraws
