AUGUSTA, Ga. — If, just a few years ago, you asked Tiger Woods a question about what an accomplishment it would be to make the cut at the Masters, you’d be doing so at your own risk.
Woods patented the icy stare whenever anyone was silly enough to ask him what his goal was on the eve of his favorite major championship.
And the answer never varied.
“To win,’’ Woods would say without fail.
Woods’ goal has never been about making cuts at major championships. His 82 career victories, including 15 major championships, is all the evidence you need on that.
Even at age 48 and with his litany of physical ailments, Woods on Tuesday said he believes he still has “one more’’ Masters victory in him this week.
I didn’t believe that to be true and still don’t, because there are too many factors working against such a remarkable feat — a few of which include current leaders Bryson DeChambeau, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa.
I do believe, however, that Woods making his 24th consecutive Masters cut on Friday to break the tournament record held by his good friend Fred Couples (1993-2007) and Gary Player (1959-82) is an accomplishment to be celebrated given his age and physical state and the rich talent-pool of depth in the game.
Even if he won’t come out and say so, you can bet it’s an accomplishment that Woods appreciates.
“As soon as I’m done with you guys,’’ Woods said of his brief post-round chat with reporters, “I’ll be able to text Freddy and give him a little needle.’’
Once Woods would find Couples and tweak him, though, his focus would quickly return to the moment, which has him at 1-over for the tournament and seven shots off the lead — on the outskirts of contention to win his record sixth green jacket.
“It means I have a chance going into the weekend,’’ Woods said, sounding a lot like his 20- or 30-something-year-old self. “I’m here. I have a chance to win the golf tournament.’’
Woods entered the day facing a challenge he would have rather not faced, which was having to play more than 18 holes.
Because Thursday’s first round was delayed by thunderstorms and then suspended due to darkness, Woods had to complete the final five holes of his first round on Friday morning before beginning his second round. That added up to 23 holes played on Friday.
“Yeah, I’m tired,’’ Woods said. “I’ve been out for a while, competing, grinding. It’s been a long 23 holes, a long day.’’
Homa, one of Woods’ playing partners the past two days, relished what he witnessed from the front row after vaulting himself into contention at 6-under trying to win his first major championship.
“It’s hard to put into words,’’ Homa said, describing his two-day Woods experience. “You feel the crowd on every shot, the anticipation and then the admiration. At times in the last two days, I’ve just looked over and watched him and enjoyed myself as a fan … with a slightly better seat.
“It really is a dream to get to play with him here,’’ Homa, like Woods an LA native, went on. “I always wanted to just watch him hit iron shots around here, and I was right up next to him. It was really cool. His short game was so good. I don’t think I can explain how good some of the chip shots he hit today were.
“He’s special. We had a really quick turnaround [after completing the first round] and if I was feeling tired and awful, I imagine he was feeling even worse.’’
As long as his health held up, Woods making the cut was always a good bet entering the tournament, because few know and understand the nuances of Augusta National better than he does.
“He just understands this golf course so well,’’ Homa said. “His iron play is so good that even when he did miss the green, you could tell he had so much control. And on 18, we had sandblasts for 45 seconds (from the wind) and I turned around five times so I didn’t get crushed in the face, and he’s standing there like a statue and then poured it right in the middle.
“All the cliches you hear about him and all the old stories about how he will grind it out, it was fun to see that in person.’’
Woods had to withdraw from the 2023 Masters before the third round began on Saturday morning because of physical ailments and cold, rainy conditions. He has completed just one 72-hole full-field tournament in the past two years.
None of that matters now, though. Because for Woods, it remains game on for the next two days as he tries to summon more of the magic that helped him stun the world in 2019.
“I’m right there,’’ Woods said.
Where he belongs.
