The Masters: Tiger Woods begins his battle to make the cut at Augusta National

Tiger Woods teed off in his battle to make the cut at The Masters Friday afternoon at Augusta National. 

The undulating Georgia course appeared to take its toll on the 47-year-old during his opening round Thursday, leaving him with work to do to make the weekend.

The five-time winner was making his 25th Masters appearance at his beloved Augusta National and playing the tournament for the second time since his horror car crash in February 2021 after making a miraculous return to the Georgia course last year. 

The patrons had flocked to the first tee as the 47-year-old stepped up looking like he meant business ahead of his quest to bounce back. 

Woods had stumbled to fall far back of his playing partners, Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele, with the talented young Norwegian holding a share of the lead overnight at seven-under on Day One. 

The five-time winner was left with work to do after an opening round of two-over

The 15-time major winner was making his 25th Masters appearance at his beloved Augusta

There had been a brief glimmer of hope thru 15 and 16 Thursday after Woods sunk back-to-back birdies. 

But his surgically reconstructed leg  finally caused problems on 18 when he was forced to play his second from right next to a fairway bunker and had to place his right foot in the sand for balance. 

It was almost as if a jolt of electricity ran through his leg and he was left hopping on his left foot in the sand, holding his injured right foot in the air. 

Left sandy in the greenside bunker, a par putt from 22 feet sailed past and Woods’s round was destined to finish at two-over with a bogey. 

Woods admitted Tuesday that this year’s tournament could be his last at the Masters.

The 15-time major winner, who has previously confessed his game will be limited to the four majors and possibly a couple of other tournaments, hinted this year could be his last stroll down Magnolia Lane. 

‘I don’t know how many more I have in me,’ the five-time Masters winner said at his pre-tournament press conference Tuesday. ‘Just to be able to appreciate the time and cherish the memories.

‘I’m very lucky to have the leg. Mobility and endurance – going forward it will never be the same. I can’t prepare and play as many tournaments as I’d like but that’s ok and I’m ok with it.’ 

The 47-year-old looked like he meant business ahead of his quest to bounce back

Woods was playing alongside Viktor Hovland, who had a share of the overnight lead 

Woods examines his ball after finding the left edge of the fairway on the first 

Woods wipes his face in the sticky Georgia weather at Augusta National Friday afternoon 

Woods last competed on the PGA Tour in February at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, where he carded a four-under 67 in the final round, his lowest score in competition since his return from his horrific car crash. 

Woods made his miracle return at last year’s Masters, just 14 months on from the single-car crash that left him with significant injuries to his right leg. 

Despite the slopes of Augusta, the five-time Masters winner battled through the pain and stiffness of his leg to remarkably make the cut. 

He finished 47th after carding consecutive 6-over 78s on the weekend, which were his worst scores at the Masters.

Despite his sensational return, Woods’s competitive appearances were limited through 2022. 

Woods managed just nine rounds in 2022 because of complications around the limb-threatening injuries he sustained in his car crash the previous year. 

Before the Genesis Invitational, Woods had not teed it up in a tournament with a cut since The Open last July.

He missed the cut at the 150th Open Championship at the historic Old Course at St. Andrews but had made the weekend at the PGA Championship, before having to withdraw after 54 holes. 

He was additionally forced to pull out of the Hero World Challenge in December, citing Plantar Fasciitis but did tee it up alongside son, Charlie, at the PNC Championship later that month, where he was permitted to use a golf cart. 

Following the event at Riviera, Woods reiterated his intent to compete in all four majors this year, if his body allows, but will limit other appearances.  

‘I’m not going to play any more than probably the majors and a couple more … that’s it, that’s all my body will allow me to do,’ Woods said at Riviera. ‘My back the way it is, all the surgeries I had on my back, my leg the way it is. I just can’t. That’s just going to be my future.

‘So my intent last year was to play in all four majors, I got three of the four. Hopefully this year I can get all four and maybe sprinkle in a few here and there. But that’s it for the rest of my career. I know that and I understand that. That’s just my reality.’