Tiger’s woes continue at Augusta National
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Following his impressive five-shot victory two weeks ago at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, you could be forgiven for thinking the old Tiger Woods was back. But what is now evident following the completion of his second round at the 2012 Masters is that Tiger is nowhere near back.
Woods began the day five behind the leaders and got off to a fast start with birdies at the first and third. But for the rest of the front nine, his putter deserted him and on the back nine, it was his winning golf swing that disappeared.
He hit some shots today that we haven’t seen from the great man for a while, if ever. Having bogeyed nine and eleven, Woods found the fairway at the par-five 15th with a rare straight drive. What ensued struck horror amongst the on-looking galleries.
His approach missed the green by 25 yards to the right, on the short side, Tiger dropping the club in disbelief and yelling ‘FORE!’ in frustration. He then semi-duffed a chip in the bunker and made just a par on a hole most of the field picked up a shot on.
Then on the next, with a wedge in his hand on the par-three, Woods made a terrible swing, finding the bunker to the right of the green. He dropped his club before he reached his finish position, kicking it 10 yards back before it hit the ground in frustration. His ball plugged and his second shot was lucky to stay dry, finishing perilously close the water’s edge. Another bogey.
Had it not been for a stunning sand save, another bogey would have ensued on the final hole. Woods’ take on his day’s play? He just didn’t have it.
“I gave everything I had on every shot,” said Woods. “I just didn’t have it today with my swing. Unfortunately, I had to hang in there and be patient. I played the par threes in three-over par.”
“I can’t say it was bad decisions. I hit a bad putt on four, a bad shot on six and from there missed short one on eight and nine.”
But even Woods remained positive about his chances of picking up his fifth Green Jacket, despite the fact he lies eight shots behind the leaders.
“That’s the neat thing about this tournament, with the 10-shot rule, anyone who makes the cut still has a chance”.
