Tiger Woods fights back to stay in the hunt at Masters

Tiger Woods fights back to stay in the hunt at Masters.

Tiger Woods battled his way out of early trouble to stay in contention for the Masters, carding a two-over 74 in the second round. The wind caused him more problems than his right leg, which he nearly lost in a career-threatening automobile accident.

Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, was one of the few to master the difficult conditions, shooting a 67 to take command of the leaderboard and charge five shots clear of the field on eight-under 136.

With the wind howling over Augusta National, golfers were in survival mode, none more so than Woods, who made bogeys on four of his first five holes, threatening to derail the comeback that has enthralled golf fans worldwide.

But the 46-year-epic old’s fight resurfaces just in time to put him one round ahead of Scheffler heading into Saturday’s third round.

“I got back in the game,” Woods said. “At second, I’m four shots behind.” That’s the problem.”

“However, Scottie is currently running away with it.”

“It’s going to be a difficult day tomorrow.” It’s going to be a windy day. On the other hand, it’s going to be fantastic.”

“It’ll be the Masters, which I believe the Masters Committee has been anticipating for several years.”

“It hasn’t been like this before. It’ll be thrilling and enjoyable for all of us.”

Scheffler, who has three PGA Tour victories in his previous five starts, demonstrated why he is the hottest golfer on the planet by making a bogey on his first hole and then shooting the best round of the day.

Even with a five-shot lead, the 25-year-old American cannot afford to relax because a trio of major winners is pursuing him, including South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel (69), the 2011 winner at Augusta National, Ireland’s Shane Lowry (68), the 2019 British Open winner, and Japan’s defending Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama (69).

Im Sung-jae (74), the first-round overnight leader from South Korea, is also five back.

“I’m sure there are still 50 players on the field,” Scheffler said, “and I can’t care what those guys are doing.” “I’m just going to go out there, play my game, and do what I’m doing.”

“There’s still a long way to go.”

“It’s wonderful to get a little bit of a head start, but I’m not going to think about it tonight or anything.”

Scheffler’s round was outstanding, but it wasn’t enough to take the limelight away from Woods.

In his first competitive event in nearly 14 months, Woods lit up the golf world on Thursday with a one-under 71 that raised the stakes.

However, the 46-year-old appeared to be on his way out early after making bogeys on four of his first five holes, including three straight from the third.

Woods regrouped with nervy pars on six and seven before finally collecting his first birdie of the day at the eighth. Three over, walking onto the sixth tee and dangerously close to the projected four-over cut line, Woods regrouped with nervy pars on six and seven before finally collecting his first birdie of the day at the eighth.

The five-time Masters champion got his back nine off to a better start than his outward nine, with a birdie at the 10th, but then gave it right back with bogeys at 11 and 12 at the dreaded Amen Corner.

But, like he has so many times before on the Augusta back nine, Woods refused to give up, making birdies at 13 and 14 before finishing with four consecutive pars.

“With as cool and as challenging as they’re predicting, tomorrow will be a big day,” Woods said. “It’ll be quick, and I need to get out there and establish myself.”

“You’ve got a shot if you’re within five or six on the back nine going into Sunday.” So all I have to do now is get there.”