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AUGUSTA, Ga. — 5-time Masters champion Tiger Woods did not make a lot of a transfer on shifting day, at the least in the appropriate route, on the 86th Masters on Saturday.
Woods, who entered the third spherical 9 pictures behind chief Scottie Scheffler and 4 strokes out of second place, could not get a lot momentum stepping into chilly and windy situations and completed 6-over 78. He completed the spherical with bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17 and a double-bogey on 18.
It was Woods’ worst rating in 93 profession rounds at Augusta Nationwide; his earlier worst was a 5-over 77 within the third spherical in 1995, his debut on the Masters as an beginner.
Whereas Woods, 46, appeared to have extra velocity and energy along with his driver on Saturday, he had 4 three-putts and a uncommon four-putt. He hit 11 of 14 fairways and 11 of 18 greens, his highest totals in each in his first three rounds.
“I imply, it is similar to I hit a thousand putts on the market on the greens immediately,” Woods stated. “Clearly, it is affected the rating. You’re taking these away and I’ve regular two putts, I made even par for the day. I did what I wanted to do ball striking-wise, however I did completely the precise reverse on the greens.”
Woods wanted 36 putts, which was his most in a spherical right here since he additionally had 36 within the third spherical in 1999. In response to the PGA Tour, it was the primary time in Woods’ profession that he had 5 holes with three putts or extra in a spherical.
“I simply couldn’t get a really feel for getting comfy with the ball,” Woods stated. “Posture, really feel, my proper hand, my launch, I simply could not discover it. Making an attempt various things, looking for it, attempting to get one thing, taking follow strokes and simply attempting to really feel the swing and the putter head, attempting to get something, and nothing appeared to work.”
Woods, who’s 7 over after 54 holes, stated the colder temperatures on Saturday affected his again. About two months earlier than his automotive wreck, he had a process to alleviate nerve ache in his decrease again. He had spinal fusion surgical procedure, a extra invasive process, in April 2017.
“It isn’t as limber and as unfastened because it usually is, that is for certain,” Woods stated.
Kevin Kisner, who performed with Woods on Saturday for the primary time of their PGA Tour careers, stated it was tough for him to maneuver and hitting the ball “felt like concrete.”
“I did not ask him a lot about his leg,” Kisner stated. “We have been attempting to maintain it fairly gentle on the market. I am certain his leg is hurting. I imply, I am hurting and I am wholesome, so I hope he can get again out right here and play a pair extra occasions with us right here quickly.”
Woods’ sudden begin within the Masters is his first in 17 months, after he was severely injured in a automotive wreck outdoors Los Angeles on Feb. 23, 2021. He has made the minimize in every of his previous 22 begins on the Masters, the third-longest streak by any participant within the event’s historical past.
Woods began his spherical with a three-putt bogey on No. 1, the second straight spherical by which he bogeyed the primary. He rebounded with a birdie on the par-5 second. His chip out of a greenside bunker practically went within the gap for an eagle, and he then made a 4-footer for birdie.
After carding pars on Nos. 3 and 4, issues fell aside rapidly on the par-4 fifth. After hitting a 304-yard drive down the center, Woods was left with 202 yards to the outlet. As quickly as Woods hit his method shot, he grimaced and yelled, “Rattling it!” His ball was quick and means proper of the inexperienced, leaving him 65 ft to the outlet.
Woods knocked his lengthy putt above the outlet and was left with a tough, downhill putt. He missed the 6-footer after which inexplicably rushed the 4-foot comeback try and it lipped out. The double-bogey 6 dropped him to three over for the event.
It was simply the second four-putt for Woods as a professional on the Masters; his solely different one was on the thirteenth gap within the opening spherical in 2005. His final four-putt in a significant got here on the 2018 U.S. Open.
Woods plans to be again on the course on Sunday, even with a sixth inexperienced jacket effectively out of his attain.
“By no means hand over. At all times chase after your goals,” Woods stated. “I battle each day. Each day is a problem. Each day presents its personal completely different challenges for all of us. I get up and begin the battle yet again.”
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