Tiger Woods ties Masters record for consecutive cuts made

Tiger Woods has made history at the Masters.

Woods battled the elements on a rainy Saturday morning at Augusta National to make the cut on the number at 3-over 147. He ties Fred Couples and Gary Player with 23 consecutive made cuts at the Masters, most all-time. Woods hasn't missed a Masters cut since 1996, playing as an amateur.

It wasn't easy. As the conditions worsened Saturday, Woods closed his second round with back-to-back bogeys to surrender his cushion and leave his fate in the hands of others. Woods stood T51 as he completed his round, with the top 50 and ties advancing to the third round. Justin Thomas moved the line with a bogey on 17 to fall to 3-over; Thomas also made bogey on 18 to miss by one.

"I've always loved this golf course, and I love playing this event," Woods said after signing his second-round card Saturday morning, while awaiting his cut-line fate. "Obviously I've missed a couple with some injuries, but I've always wanted to play here. I've loved it.

"I hope I get a chance to play on the weekend ... I'm sorry, I got a chance to play on the weekend. I wish I get to play two more rounds."

His wish was granted.

Woods began Saturday on the 12th tee as the second round resumed at 8 a.m. ET; he stood 2 over for the tournament at the time. He stuck his tee shot at the par-3 12th to 6 feet but missed the putt. After back-to-back pars, he extracted redemption with a 25-foot birdie at the par-5 15th, which ultimately proved crucial as he maintained his distinction of never missing the Masters cut as a professional, a streak that begin with his 12-shot victory in 1997, his first of five green jackets.

Woods' third shot at the 15th rattled the flagstick before spinning back toward the front of the green. It might not have been the best break, but Woods knew it could have been worse.

"At least it didn't go in the water this time when it hit the flag," Woods quipped, referencing a 2013 occurrence. "So that was nice. Made a good putt there, and then just didn't finish very well."

He closed with missed fairways and missed greens on both 17 and 18, leading to the bogeys that made for an uneasy sequence in sweating out the number. With the cut settling at 3-over, though, he earned a 1:06 p.m. ET Saturday tee time for the third round, which will be played in threesomes off two tees.

Second-round play was suspended twice Friday afternoon, ultimately called for the day at 5:45 p.m. ET, requiring the cut to be made Saturday.

Woods carded 2-over 74 in the opening round at Augusta, and he played his first 11 holes Friday in even-par before the horn blew. There was also a 21-minute delay earlier Friday afternoon, with Woods on the eighth green.

Last year, Woods made the cut at the Masters in his competitive return from severe injuries to both legs suffered in a 2021 single-car accident. He finished solo 47th that week. After appearances at last year's PGA Championship (made cut, WD after 54 holes) and The Open Championship (MC), he finished T45 at The Genesis Invitational in February.

After his round Thursday, Woods described the pain as "constant" and his right leg as "sore." He battled through it, as he did Friday and again on Saturday morning.

Read below for a hole-by-hole look of Woods' second round that spanned two days at Augusta National, as he matched Masters history by making the cut in a 23rd consecutive appearance.

Hole 18 (par 4, 465 yards)

Woods takes driver and misses it well left; the ball finds a thick tree line, nestling in the pine straw. The ball travels just 205 yards, leaving 254 yards to the hole.

Woods keeps it low with a punch motion on his second shot, as the ball travels 189 yards to leave a 66-yard third shot. He needs to get up and down to cement his spot inside the cut line; a bogey could still be enough, pending the results of Justin Thomas and Sungjae Im in groups behind.

Woods isn't quite able reach the back-left hole location, as the ball lands on a ridge some 20 feet short of the hole and trickles back toward the front, leaving 50 feet for par. He gives it a hearty effort with great speed, but the ball just misses on the right side. He taps in for bogey, a second-round 73 and a 3-over total. Now he waits.

1-over in Round 2 thru 18 | 3-over total | 8/14 fairways hit in Round 2 | 9/18 greens in regulation

Hole 17 (par 4, 440 yards)

Woods' tee shot with driver sails to the right; it finds the tree line and settles in the rough just short of the pine straw, his line to the hole blocked by several trees. His second shot holds a good line but pulls up 30 yards short of the green, requiring a chip over a bunker to a middle-left hole location.

Woods goes high for his third shot; the ball lands on the back part of the green and tries to move back toward the cup but catches at the green's edge. His 20-foot par try misses on the right side. Suddenly, he's squarely on the cut line with one hole to play. Drama ensues at Augusta.

Even-par in Round 2 thru 17 | 2-over total | 8/13 fairways hit in Round 2 | 9/17 greens in regulation

Hole 16 (par 3, 170 yards)

Woods stares down his mid-iron on a line toward the hole, but it lands on the middle of the green, well short of the back hole location, and catches a ridge to trickle even further back. He faces a 60-foot birdie try across tiers, not the most seamless of propositions at this juncture in the proceedings.

Woods' right-to-left bending birdie try is struck on a good line, but it doesn't have the requisite pace; the ball settles 7 feet short of the cup. A tester to remain one shot inside the cut line. Ever the gamer, he drains it to save par and maintain his one-stroke margin for error with two holes to play.

1-under in Round 2 thru 16 | 1-over total | 8/12 fairways hit in Round 2 | 9/16 greens in regulation

Hole 15 (par 5, 550 yards)

Woods takes driver as the rain maintains a steady beat; the ball finds the right side of the fairway but travels just 265 yards. He lays up safely with his second shot, playing to the left side of the fairway and leaving a flip-wedge approach from 91 yards.

Woods takes his third shot directly over the top of the flagstick, literally; the ball rattles off the flagstick before landing and spinning back to leave an uphill 25-foot birdie try.

As he does, Woods channels Augusta energy and drains the birdie putt. The patrons make their appreciation clearly known. Woods moves one inside the projected cut line with three holes to play.

1-under in Round 2 thru 15 | 1-over total | 8/12 fairways hit in Round 2 | 8/15 greens in regulation

Hole 14 (par 4, 440 yards)

Woods pulls driver and quickly strides forward upon making contact; the ball pierces the center of the fairway. He puts a little too much juice on his mid-iron approach, though, as the ball lands on the back of the green and releases into the back fringe.

Woods' chip shot lands just on the green and releases toward the hole, settling just 5 feet short. The right-to-left par attempt catches the left side of the hole and falls in. A crafty par-save as Woods remains squarely on the projected cut line with four holes to play.

Even-par in Round 2 thru 14 | 2-over total | 7/11 fairways hit in Round 2 | 7/14 greens in regulation

Hole 13 (par 5, 545 yards)

Woods stripes his tee shot down the middle on the recently lengthened par 5, as the rain starts to descend upon Augusta. He motions right immediately upon hitting his second shot, descending into the gallery right of the fairway. He has a nice angle for his third, though, and plays a crisp wedge that lands just short of the hole and spins back to leave a 17-foot birdie try.

Woods' birdie putt holds a good line but pulls up just short of the hole. He taps in for par to remain squarely on the projected cut line with five holes to play.

Even-par in Round 2 thru 13 | 2-over total | 6/10 fairways hit in Round 2 | 7/13 greens in regulation

Hole 12 (par 3, 155 yards)

Woods begins Saturday morning with the iconic tee shot on the short par 3 over Rae's Creek, and he fires a dart to 6 feet, showing zero rust from the overnight wait to resume the second round.

He misses a golden opportunity, though, as the right-to-left breaker misses on the left side. He taps in for a less-than-satisfying par.

Even-par in Round 2 thru 12 | 2-over total | 5/9 fairways hit in Round 2 | 6/12 greens in regulation

Hole 11 (par 4, 520 yards)

Woods pulls driver on the lengthy par 4 and stripes it down the center of the fairway, still leaving a lengthy approach into one of the venue's most demanding holes, which yielded just four birdies in Thursday's opening round.

The 15-time major champion is immediately dismayed upon hitting his second shot, as it sails to the right and misses the green, leaving a slippery chip to a back-middle hole location. His chip is well-judged but races some 8 feet past the hole. Just before the horn blows due to dangerous weather, he drains the par, center-cut. The patrons roar, and Woods provides a hearty wave. Play is halted shortly thereafter and is eventually suspended for the evening.

Even-par Friday thru 11 | 2-over total | 5/9 fairways hit Friday | 5/11 greens in regulation

Hole 10 (par 4, 495 yards)

Woods comfortably shapes his tee shot on the sharp dogleg par 4, bending it toward the left side of the fairway, where it settles. His mid-iron second shot catches the right side of the green and funnels slightly closer to the hole, leaving a mid-range birdie putt.

His 34-footer tracks toward the hole but runs out of speed, hanging up a foot short of the hole. He taps in for a conventional par to remain on the cut line. The Georgia winds are now demonstrating noticeable gusts against the loblolly pines; the rain is appearing as well.

Even-par Friday thru 10 | 2-over total | 4/8 fairways hit Friday | 5/10 greens in regulation

Hole 9 (par 4, 460 yards)

Woods takes driver and splits the center of the fairway without a doubt, carrying the momentum from his birdie at the previous hole. Playing a short iron up the hill for his approach, the ball lands some 15 feet right of the hole but catches a ridge and funnels back, ultimately tricking just off the front of the green.

Displaying his years of knowledge around Augusta National, Woods plays a crafty pitch that lands soft, releases and checks, settling within inches of the cup. He taps in for par to preserve an even-par 36 on the front nine. He's T50, exactly on the cut line as he turns to the second nine.

Even-par Friday thru 9 | 2-over total | 3/7 fairways hit Friday | 4/9 greens in regulation

Hole 8 (par 5, 570 yards)

Coming off his first bogey of the day, Woods selects driver and motions quickly to the right after a one-handed finish to his swing. No harm, though, as the ball safely settles in the right side of the fairway.

For his second shot, Woods takes a fairway metal and plays a hard cut that chases up the fairway near the front of the green. It's a straightforward chip shot for his third, and he takes advantage with a deft pitch to within a couple feet.

From there, it's a lull as play is halted due to dangerous weather in the area. Woods perhaps takes the moment to ponder his position; he stands T52 at the time of delay, one back of the top-50 and ties that will advance to the third round.

Play resumes at 3:28 p.m. local time, and Woods doesn't miss a beat, tapping in for his first birdie of the day. He moves back onto the projected cut line, aiming to match the history of Fred Couples and Gary Player.

Even-par Friday thru 8 | 2-over total | 2/6 fairways hit Friday | 4/8 greens in regulation

Hole 7 (par 4, 450 yards)

Woods takes driver off the tee and plays a cut; the ball lands in the fairway but bounds into the right rough, leaving a blocked-out second shot with a tree directly in his line, just a few yards ahead of his ball.

Woods elects for a conservative play on his second shot, punching out to the left side of the fairway, leaving a lengthy pitch to a back-right hole location.

His third shot lands hole-high but has too much juice and doesn't check up; the ball releases over the green into the back fairway. His fourth shot nestles to near tap-in range, and he cleans up the bogey.

1-over Friday thru 7 | 3-over total | 1/5 fairways hit Friday | 3/7 greens in regulation

Hole 6 (par 3, 180 yards)

Woods pulls mid-iron and stares it down all the way; the ball lands just a couple feet from the flagstick and releases to leave a short-range birdie putt from 8 feet or so. A chance for his first circle of the day.

Woods faces a downhill slider and can't quite get it to drop; the ball cuts across just before reaching the hole and misses on the right side. He taps in for a par, his sixth straight to begin the round, but one that perhaps leaves a bit to be desired.

Even-par Friday thru 6 | 2-over total | 1/4 fairways hit Friday | 3/6 greens in regulation

Hole 5 (par 4, 495 yards)

Woods pulls driver and gestures right immediately; the ball misses the fairway to the right and bounds into the pine straw. He's fortunate to stay just outside a line of shrubs, maintaining his chances to reach the green in two.

Woods takes advantage of his good fortune with a crafty fade that runs up onto the front-right portion of the green, leaving a lengthy birdie putt up to a higher tier, but a birdie putt nonetheless. It's a putt that's nearly impossible to stop close to the hole, and the putt trickles some 6 feet by, but he doesn't miss a beat. He drains the par for his fifth consecutive par, remaining on the projected cut line.

Even-par Friday thru 5 | 2-over total | 1/4 fairways hit Friday | 2/5 greens in regulation

Hole 4 (par 3, 240 yards)

Woods pulls long iron on the lengthy par 3 and flushes it, perhaps a bit too well as the ball sails right over the flag and into the back fringe. It's a delicate proposition, and the Augusta veteran pulls putter, the ball flirting with the hole but missing on the left and running some 7 feet by.

Facing a slightly breaking uphiller for par, he drains it right in the heart. Fourth consecutive par to begin the second round at Augusta National.

Even-par Friday thru 4 | 2-over total | 1/3 fairways hit Friday | 1/4 greens in regulation

Hole 3 (par 4, 350 yards)

Woods pulls iron off the tee on the short par 4, ever the tactician, leaving a wedge approach to the ever-fickle green.

His second shot lands near the flagstick but spins back to the front portion of the green, settling on the fringe, 25 feet or so from the hole -- perhaps catching a break in not rolling down into the fairway well below.

Woods' uphill birdie try swings just short and left of the hole, and he settles for his third consecutive par to begin the second round. He stands T50, squarely on the projected cut line.

Even-par Friday thru 3 | 2-over total | 1/3 fairways hit Friday | 1/3 greens in regulation

Hole 2 (par 5, 575 yards)

Woods selects fairway metal off the tee and tugs it slightly left; the ball bounds into the pine straw, requiring a layup on the reachable par 5. He plays his second shot safely down the fairway, leaving a flip wedge into the green.

Woods lands his third shot on the back fringe, and it comes tantalizingly close to catching the slope and spinning back toward the hole, but it narrowly hangs up in the fringe, leaving a downhill, bending 30-foot birdie try. He has the right line but just not enough speed; the ball hangs up 3 feet short of the flag. No trouble, as he drains the delicate par putt to stay squarely on the projected cut line.

Even-par Friday thru 2 | 2-over total | 0/2 fairways hit Friday | 1/2 greens in regulation

Hole 1 (par 4, 445 yards)

Woods pulls driver off the tee and produces clean contact, the ball finding light rough just off the left side of the fairway.

The 82-time TOUR winner plays his second shot safely to the center of the green; the hole is utilizing a back hole location for the second round.

As the wind begins to swirl, Woods deftly lags his birdie try up the slope, leading to a routine par to begin the day.

Even-par Friday thru 1 | 2-over total | 0/1 fairways hit Friday | 1/1 greens in regulation