Tiger Woods (+1) has made the cut at Augusta. Nothing in itself that is news. After all, he has already made 25 out of the 26 Masters he has played. The strange thing, therefore, is when he doesn’t. What happens, of course, is that this is not just any cut, although it may seem so. What this gentleman from Cypress has done is simply extraordinary.
Tiger has broken an incredible record this Friday at the coliseum of Georgia. He has achieved his 24th consecutive cut in Augusta. All since 1997. All in which he has played, of course, because during this period he missed the Masters of 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2021 due to injury. Woods surpasses the 23 consecutive cuts of Fred Couples and Gary Player. Another feat to add to the chest of superpowers of the genius.
The fact is fabulous, but the way he did it weighs even more. Tiger has delivered a par result on a very complicated day, with a very strong, gusty wind, above 55 kilometers per hour. In fact, at the time of handing in his card, there was only one better result in the clubhouse, the 70 of Patrick Reed.
In case anyone had not noticed the difficulties, the bunker of hole 18 unleashed a brutal sandstorm due to the wind, forcing Tiger to cover his face and stand sideways while studying his par putt. In the audience, however, no one blinked, no one wanted to miss that moment for history. Woods breaking records in the middle of a gale.
To the complications of the weather, we must add another more than discreet day with the irons. It is impressive to think that Tiger has made a par round this Friday hitting just four really good irons. Literal. The ones from 1, 3, 8 and 16 are saved. Stop counting. It is true that the conditions were very difficult and it must be taken into account, but there are other golfers who have handled better in the shots to green.
Tiger has faced these tin irons, understand it as a way of speaking, with legendary courage and out-of-category woods. His exhibition from the tee has been superb, one of the best of his career. Always in play, always well placed, reasonably long. He has rarely been seen so sure with that club. It is another demonstration of the extraordinary capacity for conversion that this golfer has always had during his career. I play with what I have and I give the best of what I have.
He secured the cut with another sovereign blow with the wood, in this case with the 3. It was on the 15th, of course from the fairway. A shot of 257 yards. He caught the green in two and putted for eagle. He secured a birdie that clarified the path. In addition, his short game and the putt have responded remarkably. Resources.
The last time Tiger Woods missed the cut at the Masters was in 1996. More than a quarter of the players present this week in Augusta were not born, including Scottie Scheffler, Will Zalatoris, Ludvig Aberg, Collin Morikawa, Joaquín Niemann, Viktor Hovland or Nicolai Hojgaard. In total, 23 of the 89 participants.
Woods breaks an incredible record 28 years and nine operations later: three knee, four back and two ankle. The ones that are known. Simply, amazing. He is very good, perhaps the best of all time, and he is also a warrior.
And from today, he is also a little more history of the Masters and golf. Everyone on their feet to applaud the champion.
