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Tiger Woods works overtime to set Masters record

Jim Souhan, Star Tribune on

Published in Golf

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Tiger Woods is a retired professional golfer, whether he admits it or not. He has completed four rounds in a tournament once in the last 14 months, and he spent the first two rounds of the Masters this week looking like the 48-year-old he is, with his litany of injuries and a chronic limp.

"The guy has barely played at all in the last calendar year, and he's 1-over," said amateur Stewart Hagestad. "That's alien stuff. That's unbelievable."

Friday, Woods was like a gray-haired pitcher in an old-timers game who throws 95-mph fastballs.

He survived high winds on Thursday night, was unable to finish his first round at the Masters because of a rain delay, and had to be back at Augusta National early the next morning.

After a warmup session early Friday, Woods finished his first round and had 48 minutes until his second-round tee time.

So, what does a 48-year-old legend with a litany of aches and a fused right ankle do when given a chance for a brief rest?

 

Practice.

Woods went to the driving range and hit a variety of shots, then walked to the putting green near the first tee. He would take his stance, then drop the ball from his nose to the ground, to ensure that his eyes were over the ball when he made his stroke.

Then he limped to the first tee box, finished playing his 23 holes for the day, and broke another record.

Woods shot an even-par 72 in the second round to remain at 1-over, making the cut at the Masters for the 24th consecutive time, surpassing the record he had shared with Gary Player and Fred Couples. "I'm going to text Freddie and give him a little needle," Woods said.

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