The Masters 2024: Tiger Woods faces fresh physical test and marathon Friday after delays at Augusta National | Golf News

Tiger Woods will put his physique by means of its hardest bodily check in a few years when he faces a marathon Friday at one other weather-affected version of The Masters.

Woods was given a late-early draw for the primary two rounds on the Augusta Nationwide, the place a two-and-a-half-hour delay on account of opposed climate noticed him not tee off with Jason Day and Max Homa till 3.54pm native time (8.54pm BST).

The later begin meant that Woods was solely capable of full 13 holes earlier than play was suspended on account of darkness, leaving the 15-time main champion having to play 23 on Friday as he seems to make a record-breaking twenty fourth consecutive lower at The Masters.

Will probably be first time Woods has performed greater than 18 holes on the identical day in match competitors since November 2019, when he performed 29 holes throughout a prolonged Sunday forward of finishing a record-equalling 82nd PGA Tour title the next day.

There have been encouraging indicators from his efforts by means of 13 holes on Thursday, nevertheless, with the five-time winner of The Masters one below par in a single day.

Woods: One of many trickiest days I’ve ever been a part of

In vastly testing, windy circumstances on the opening day in Augusta, Woods carded birdies on the par-four first and par-five eighth, together with his one bogey coming on the par-three fourth, whereas some advantageous wedge work late within the day prevented any additional dropped photographs.

“It was one of the vital tough days that I’ve ever been part of,” Woods advised reporters. “The wind was far and wide.

“It was arduous to get a beat not solely on what route it was going, however the depth, and it stored switching. It was a really troublesome day.”

Bryson DeChambeau holds a one-shot lead over Scottie Scheffler after day one, setting the clubhouse goal with a seven-under 65 after a run of 5 birdies in a six-hole stretch.

World No 1 Scheffler, trying to win his second Inexperienced Jacket in three years, earned himself solo second with a superb bogey-free 66.

Davies: Woods’ brief sport was ‘mustard’

Whereas Woods is a bit of off the tempo by way of his scoring, Dame Laura Davies was inspired by what she noticed from the 48-year-old, telling Sky Sports activities: “It was a unbelievable effort.

“We weren’t fearful about his golf – he’d been hitting it effectively on the vary all week – however may he stroll around the course? He regarded actually strong. By the top of the day, he was nonetheless striding out.

“He solely hit seven of 13 greens, however his brief sport actually saved him… it was mustard immediately. He had some actually troublesome chips and dealt with them fantastically on 11 and 12, getting up and down and saving pars.

“If he can get a pair early tomorrow, three below of two below could be an incredible begin for Tiger.”

As for the problem that awaits him of 23 holes in a day, Woods mentioned: “We will heat up and simply sort of head down there and begin our spherical.

“Will probably be just about nearly like between 20 and half-hour in between rounds, so it will be a pure stream from the end of the primary spherical and continuation of the second.”

He added: “The physique is okay. We have some work to do but tonight.”

What are circumstances meant to be like on Friday?

There isn’t any risk of thunderstorms for any of the subsequent three days, with temperatures significantly hotter than Woods skilled when he was pressured to withdraw mid-round from final 12 months’s match.

The robust winds are set to proceed into Friday, the place the primary spherical will have to be accomplished, though circumstances over the weekend are hotter and calmer.

“Barely cooler and fewer humid circumstances return Friday with principally sunny skies and highs within the low 70s,” a climate replace from match officers mentioned on Thursday. “It’ll proceed to be windy out of the west 15-20 gusting to 30 mph all through the day.

“After a cool begin Saturday morning, temperatures will rebound properly this weekend with highs within the higher 70s Saturday and low to mid 80s on Sunday, with plentiful sunshine.”

The place has Woods struggled earlier than?

Since ending tied-Thirty eighth in his title defence at The Masters in November 2020, Woods has made simply seven aggressive appearances and solely accomplished 72 holes thrice throughout that interval.

Harm has severely restricted how often he has been capable of compete in recent times, with Woods withdrawing forward of his last spherical on the 2022 PGA Championship and once more forward of the ultimate day final 12 months at Augusta.

Woods additionally pulled out mid-tournament from the Genesis Invitational in February, with the previous world No 1 admitting forward of this week that his sport and his physique ‘wasn’t prepared’ to tee it up elsewhere on the PGA Tour forward of The Masters.

The Masters – Reside

Friday twelfth April 7:30pm

Can Woods actually make extra Masters historical past?

Woods mentioned pre-tournament that he felt he may win yet another main title, if ‘all the pieces comes collectively’, whereas a sixth Masters victory would see him match Jack Nicklaus’ all-time complete at Augusta.

“Tiger [Woods] is sort of able to profitable,” Nicklaus mentioned in his press convention on Thursday.

“I mentioned in right here [press building] 20 years in the past – Tiger had an opportunity to win greater than Arnold [Palmer] and I had put collectively, and that will have been ten [Masters titles]. You recognize, he in all probability would have if he had not been injured.

“I feel he is acquired a tricky option to go to win. I feel he’ll actually hit the ball effectively sufficient to take action. Whether or not he bodily can deal with what has to occur with it, and he is additionally acquired to have the ability to rating higher than all people else, too. He is a really particular, gifted athlete, and I want him effectively.”

Who will win The Masters? Watch solely reside this week on Sky Sports activities, with all 4 rounds reside on Sky Sports activities Golf. Stream The Masters and lots more golf with NOW.

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