AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods stood at the edge of the 18th green at Augusta National, turned away from a mighty gust and cupped his hands to his head to hold on to his hat. The blast created a mini-sandstorm that pelted the gallery of patrons like a million pinpricks.
It was that kind of afternoon Friday, when the skies were almost cloudless but strong winds had the flags snapping and Georgia pines swaying.
As for Woods, he was a familiar force of nature.
He’s not leading this storied tournament, which he has won five times, but his even-par 72 meant he safely made his record 24th consecutive Masters cut. That’s one better than legends Fred Couples and Gary Player with whom he had shared the record.
Bryson DeChambeau says his feelings for Augusta National have changed in the wake of shooting an opening-round 65 to take the lead at the Masters.
“As soon as I’m done with you guys text Freddy and give him a little needle,” Woods told a cluster of reporters after his round.
Although he’s 48 and five years removed from his last victory in a major — his up-from-the-ashes classic in the 2019 Masters — Woods has more in mind than simply making the cut. He started Friday by playing the final five holes of his opening round, as Thursday’s weather-delayed rounds were postponed for darkness.
He said making the cut “means I have a chance going into the weekend. 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.”
Collin Morikawa birdied two of the last three holes and shot a 70, one better than his opening round. He’s squarely in the mix at three under.
Morikawa finished at minus-4 in the past two Masters, good for 10th last year and fifth in 2022.
“Look, this is exactly where I’d want to be,” said Morikawa, who grew up in La Cañada Flintridge. “Obviously I’d rather be a little lower and closer to the lead, but for right now after I’ve been playing the past kind of month, I’m very, very happy. It feels like I have control of the golf ball, and that’s the biggest thing. My irons have been holding me back, and normally that’s not the case. It’s kind of nice to just hit some quality golf shots.”
Other Southland natives who projected to make the cut: Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay (2 over), Akshay Bhatia (3 over), Phil Mickelson and Sahith Theegala (4 over).
It was a great day for Max Homa, who followed a 67 in the first round with a 71 in the second, and he narrowly averted clocking himself with his own club.
He lost his grip on his tee shot on No. 3 and the club flipped in his hands, the head of the driver nearly catching him in the face.
“Yeah, it was a terrible swing,” said Homa, who wound up making par on the hole. “Bad focus. And every once in a while, I let go of the club. I didn’t intend to, but I thought it looked about as bad as it probably could, but I was glad the club didn’t touch the ground. That felt quite nice.”
Like Morikawa, Homa grew up in Southern California (Valencia High) and played at the University of California.
Speaking at the Masters, Tom Watson says he can tell players miss the camaraderie they enjoyed until the PGA Tour players left for LIV Golf.
Bryson DeChambeau talked about patience this week and not being too aggressive in chasing birdies at Augusta. But he was a brute again on No. 17, lashing his Friday drive 372 yards.
“I smoked it,” said DeChambeau, whose 73 was good enough to keep him tied atop the leaderboard at six under.
Despite the towering drive, and a wedge shot that put him in birdie territory, he missed a six-foot putt and settled for par.
“I knew could I get it down past the trees on right if I didn’t hit my best,” he said. “I aimed at the right-hand side, hit a bit of a draw down there and hit it really well, left myself a great opportunity. Unfortunately didn’t capitalize.”
There was a comical moment after DeChambeau hit his tee shot on 13 into the trees on the right. Before punching out of the pine straw toward the 14th fairway, he uprooted a big sign — one that directs patrons this way and that — threw the obstruction over his shoulder and carried it out of the way. It was a Paul Bunyan-style move.
“It was the only option, pretty much the only option… So I decided to do that,” he said, “and the patrons were nice enough to move over to the side to make sure it was wide enough so if I hit one errant, nobody would get hit by the ball. I hit a great shot around the corner and was able to take advantage of a pretty open entrance to the green at that back right flag and made a nice birdie putt.”
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