Tiger Woods heavily limps in third Masters round as brutal conditions begin to take their toll

Tiger Woods braced for the cold as he headed out for his Masters third round Saturday afternoon after narrowly making the cut just hours prior.

The five-time winner had battled through the heavy rain and high winds to just edge through to the weekend in the morning – with a helping hand from pal Justin Thomas – but had another long afternoon of grinding it out. 

Woods was forced into an early start Saturday morning after his second round was cut short Friday following the blaring and got his third round underway from the 10th tee at 1.06pm ET/6.06pm BST after Augusta National officials adopted a two-tee start in an effort to complete play. 

Wrapped up on the gloomy Georgia day, Woods’s third round start was as cold as the weather. 

The 15-time major winner hit an opening bogey five on Camellia, falling 17 shots off the pace of leader Brooks Koepka. 

The five-time winner had narrowly made the cut just hours prior to heading back out

Wrapped up on the gloomy Georgia day, Woods teed off on the back nine at 1.06pm ET

It was a tough showing from the golfing great on 13 when his tee shot found the trees, resulting in a bogey four.

The misery was compounded on 15 when he spun a wedge into the water guarding the front of the green and walked off with a double-bogey seven. 

Woods had dropped inside the cut mark Saturday morning during his second round with a neat, little birdie on 15, draining in a putt from downtown. 

However, a bogey on the 17th left him needing a par on 18 but the golfing great was wayward off the tee, double-crossing his drive straight into the trees. 

He wasn’t able to get himself out of trouble dropping another shot and leaving him at risk. 

Woods was left to play the agonizing waiting game back in the clubhouse with Thomas and Sung-jae Im still out on the course, both with the ability to affect the cut line. 

If either gave up a shot and drop to match three-over, the cut line would move in favor of Woods, extending his potentially final Masters appearance. 

But the 15-time major winner was bailed out by pal Thomas after his fellow American also dropped shots on 17 and 18 to fall to four-over and cause the projected cut line to three-over, ironically missing it himself. 

His miraculous made cut saw him tie Fred Couples and Gary Player for the record for most consecutive cuts made at The Masters at 23. 

However, it is unclear if he will have a chance to extend that number and take the solo lead after he admitted in his pre-tournament press conference that he is unsure how many more Masters he has left in him. 

He made a remarkable return to Augusta last year, just 14 months after almost losing his right leg in a horror car crash in February 2021. 

Despite the undulations of the prestigious Georgia course, Woods battled through the pain and stiffness of his leg to remarkably make the cut.

But he has continued to battle with the pain caused by the injures to the surgically-repaired leg over the past 12 months. 

Woods, 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 tied the record for the most consecutive cuts made at The Masters with 23

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. 

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. 

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