Tiger Woods has penned another glorious chapter in his storied career with a record-breaking 24th consecutive cut made at the Masters.
The 15-times major winner dragged his battered 48-year-old body around Augusta National for 23 holes on Friday in a mighty display of mental and physical resolve to earn another weekend tee time.
After starting the day at one under through 13 holes of his opening round, Woods dropped two shots to post a one-over 73.
With the eye of a tiger, he then carved out an even-par second-round 72 in howling winds as the crowd rode his every shot.
On a day when pars were like gold, a thunderous “Tiger roar” reverberated around the course when he chipped in for birdie from the collar of a bunker on the par-3 sixth.
Further birdies on the third, eighth and 15th holes offset bogeys on four, five and No.14 as Woods eclipsed the cut record he previously shared with Fred Couples and Gary Player.
The former world No.1 – who had only two competitive rounds since last year’s Masters – has now made the cut at Augusta every time he’s entered since first winning, by a record 12 shots, in 1997.
At one over for the tournament, and eight strokes behind mid-round on-course pacesetter Bryson DeChambeau, Woods still believes he can land a record-equalling sixth green jacket on Sunday.
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“It means I have a chance going into the weekend. I’m here. I have a chance to win the golf tournament,” he said.
“I’m right there. I’m only eight back as of right now. I don’t think anyone is going to run off and hide right now, but it’s really bunched.
“The way the ball is moving on the greens, chip shots are being blown, it’s all you want in a golf course today.
“I don’t know if they’re all going to finish today, but I’m done. I got my two rounds in. Just need some food and some caffeine and I’ll be good to go.”
Meanwhile, Cam Davis has held his nerve to upstage his more-fancied Australian compatriots and surge into contention during the windswept Masters at Augusta National.
Davis backed up his opening three-under-par 69 with a steely second-round 72 on Friday to briefly capture the clubhouse lead at golf’s first major championship of the year.
The Sydneysider climbed to five under and to within two shots of first-round leader Bryson DeChambeau at one point before making a double bogey at the par-4 seventh hole.
Davis flayed his drive right into the trees, chipped out on to the fairway and then dumped his third into a bunker.
He also rued putting through the green on the par-5 13th for a second six of the day before bouncing back with a lovely birdie on 15 and clutch up-and-down par on the last.
As howling winds caused havoc amongst the afternoon starters, the former Australian Open champion was sitting pretty four strokes behind American DeChambeau when he signed his scorecard.
“I feel like I put in my hard work. I’m happy to put my feet up this afternoon,” Davis said.
“It’s a good test out there right now. I feel like pars are good scores.
“There are a few opportunities, if you do hit some good tee shots and good approaches into some of the slopes, that can help you out.
“Yeah, I had a couple of stumbles but I felt like I battled well and made some nice putts to keep the momentum.”
DeChambeau remained at his overnight seven-under score through nine holes on Friday as fellow American and world No.1 Scottie Scheffler joined him atop the leaderboard with a birdie on the second.
Davis enjoyed the clubhouse lead for 95 minutes until young Dane Nicolai Hojgaard (73) pipped him at four under.
Big gun Cameron Smith remained the next best Australian at one under early in his second round.
Playing with superstar five-time champion Tiger Woods, Jason Day was fighting to make the cut.
Day was right on the projected cut line at three over, where he started the round, after returning early on Friday morning to complete his opener and then back up for his second round.
Resuming at even par through 13 holes, he double-bogeyed the 16th after dumping his ball into the water, then dropped another shot at the last after slicing his tee shot into the trees.
But he stayed steady to stay in the hunt, as did Min Woo Lee, who was also three over but only through six holes.
Adam Scott, still Australia’s only ever Masters winner, was five over with two holes remaining and desperately needing a birdie to have any hope of securing a weekend tee spot.