AUGUSTA | Tiger Woods’ bodywork held up in the cold and wind on Saturday. His short game, however, let him down.
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Those who believe that the 46-year-old golfer, who is returning to the game after a horrific car accident 14 months ago, seems to be struggling with his leg, are wrong.
In a difficult day during which Mother Nature annoyed the golfers from the first tee times in the middle of the morning, the Tiger was not spared.
He brought down a card of 78 (+6) and fell back to 41e rank with a cumulative record of +7.
With winds reaching 40 km/h and “freezing” cold for the Georgians, Woods still managed to do well. He came out of the mounds well and somehow controlled his irons. Mostly annoyed by the swirling winds and gusts, he hit 11 of 18 greens in prescribed strokes, a stat that puts him in the top 15 this round.
Before last
On the greens, however, he frankly broke his head without being able to regain his means. His 36 putts relegated him to 51e and penultimate row in this neuralgic column. Rarely have we seen him know five greens from three putts. Even at the fifth pennant, he executed four putts, while he missed one by two feet.
“It’s like I did a thousand putts on this course today (Saturday), grumbled the golfer, who knows these greens like the back of his hand. It affects the score, obviously. If I had any control over my putter, I would have been close to par. »
Woods explained that he never found his feelings on the surfaces. “I was not able to find my posture, my touch, my right hand and my execution.
“I tried some things,” he continued. I searched, I practiced my routine, my execution, and tried to find the feel in the head of my putter. Nothing worked.
“With all the putts done, I thought I’d be able to find a solution as the round progressed, but no. »
Through his explanations, Woods assured that his leg is holding up. She doesn’t bother him. Anyway, he knew it wouldn’t be a stroll in the park for a few minutes.
“Nothing has changed physically. Under these conditions, this round was a challenge. It was difficult, indicated the one who committed five bogeys and two double bogeys. Maybe some won’t say it, but for me it was really difficult. I don’t feel like I hit it wrong.
“I did what I had to do for the quality of my shots, but I did the opposite on the greens. »
A last
Even if he is relegated to 41e level, Woods does not give up.
Just because he’s 16 shots behind point guard Scottie Scheffler doesn’t mean he’s going to give up.
Remember that in the 2020 edition, he had scored a 10 on the par 3 of the 12e hole in the final round. He then rolled up his sleeves by collecting five birdies to the chalet, four of which were his last four pennants.
Sunday morning, he will start at 10:50 a.m. with Jon Rahm in order to continue to inspire the younger generation.
“It’s not true that I’m going to let go. You have to chase your dreams. I fight every day. Every day brings me a new challenge. I will still fight in the final round. »