AUGUSTA -- Friday's good feelings from setting a new Masters Tournament record didn't carry over into Saturday for Tiger Woods.
Woods, the five-time Masters champion who now holds the tournament record for most consecutive cuts made with 24, struggled mightily on his way to a 10-over 82 to tumble down the leaderboard at Augusta National Golf Club.
The biggest challenge Woods faced Saturday? There were several.
"The fact that I was not hitting it very good or putting well," he said. "I didn't have a very good warmup session, and I kept it going all day today. Just hit the ball in all the places that I know I shouldn't hit it. And I missed a lot of putts. Easy, makeable putts. I missed a lot of them."
It couldn't have been much more different from his first two days, especially Friday. Woods, who had played 24 competitive holes this year, endured 23 of them Friday after Thursday's weather delay and made the cut with five shots to spare.
Saturday, the rust showed.
"I wouldn't say necessarily mental reps. It's just that I haven't competed and played much," he said. "When I had chances to get it flipped around and when I made that putt at 5, I promptly three-putted 6 and flub a chip at 7 and just got it going the wrong way, and when I had opportunities to flip it, I didn't."
He was understandably tired walking off the course Friday after battling windy conditions, with his fused back, ankle and surgically-rebuilt knee bearing the brunt of 23 holes worth of golf.
Still, he was proud of the way he competed, grinded and fought to get through to the weekend.
"It means I have a chance going into the weekend," he said after finishing his second round. "I'm here. I have a chance to win the golf tournament. I don't know if they're all going to finish today, but I'm done. I got my two rounds in. Just need some food and some caffeine, and I'll be good to go."
That chance vanished Saturday after eight bogeys and two doubles. He heads to Sunday at 11 over for the tournament.
Woods said Tuesday that the cut streak, which he previously shared with good friend Fred Couples (1983-2007) and Gary Player (1959-82), was a symbol of longevity, consistency and an understanding of how to play Augusta National.
His chipping was a bright spot through two days, which was helped by his misses ending up in the right spots. That wasn't the case Saturday, and the gutsy par saves were even harder to execute.
His cut streak began in 1997, which was both his first Masters as a pro and also his first green jacket. He's missed the tournament four times during the stretch, but never the cut. Last year he made it through after multiple weather delays, but withdrew six holes into the third round after reaggravating his plantar fasciitis. What was a pained look for most of last year has been more joyful before Saturday.
"Well, I've always loved playing here. I've been able to play here since I was 19 years old," he said. "It's one of the honors I don't take lightly, being able to compete. The years I have missed, I wish I was able to play because there's such an aura and mystique about playing this golf course that I don't think that - unless you have played and competed here, you probably don't really appreciate."
Max Homa played with Woods in the first two rounds and said he actually felt more at ease despite the massive galleries following the group - Homa knew those patrons were there for Woods, so he was able to tune out any potential distractions.
Tyrrell Hatton was Woods' playing partner Saturday, and he had to balance his inner excited kid with the competitor trying to contend at a major. Hatton had his own struggles in a round of 73, and he could empathize with Woods.
"Sure, he didn't hit it how he wanted to, but also like putts that he had, like the greens are so fast out there," Hatton said. "You guys, you don't realize, even a 2½ foot putt is just brutal. They've got so much turn. You start it a centimeter outside of your start line and it's going to miss."
Woods' tee time for Sunday will now be an early one, but he said Saturday evening he had no intentions of withdrawing.Â
"My team will get me ready," he said. "Club has have been awesome. It will be a long night and a long warmup session, but we'll be ready."
