If Tiger Woods uses Thursday to get acclimated to Augusta National, Friday is when he makes his move up the leaderboard. In his previous 12 appearances, Woods averaged an opening round 72.5, but followed with a 70 in Round 2. In his four Masters victories, the numbers are even more staggering: 71, on average, on Thursday; 66.8 on Friday.
Well, Tiger's 36 holes into the 2009 Masters, and after a predictable first-day 70, he could only manage an even-par 72 on Friday. His relatively slow start, coupled with Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry treating Alastair McKenzie's masterpiece like the local muni, almost guarantees Tiger will have to wait till next spring to win his fifth green jacket.
Woods has carded Thursday-Friday rounds in the 70s on seven occasions at Augusta, and has finished no better than second. Good news: despite some uninspiring golf through two days, Tiger's tied for 13th. Bad news: he's seven shots back of leaders Campbell and Perry. And Anthony Kim, who just set the tournament record for birdies in a round with 11, heads to the weekend tied for sixth and playing out of his mind.
Tiger's never overcome a final-round deficit of more than five strokes, which means he has a lot of work to do on moving day. After Thursday's showing, Woods sounded about like you might expect: unhappy but determined and, ultimately, boring: "A lot of wasted opportunities today. Didn't get a whole lot out of my round again." And when asked about his chances, added, "Obviously, I need to play a little better than I have, make a few more putts and hopefully get it going."
Yeah, that's what CBS is hoping for, too. History, however, suggests otherwise.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-10-2009 @ 5:14PM
Joseph Scherger said...
Masters Hopes Over! Saturday is moving day and Tiger is still very much in this.
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4-10-2009 @ 5:50PM
dinohealth said...
Ryan, Tiger can make a move Sunday morning, and arrive the previous Saturday night!
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4-10-2009 @ 5:58PM
kwatson272 said...
If he doesn't come back, then he's picking feathers out of his mouth for all the Grand Slam talk.
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4-10-2009 @ 6:00PM
DISPATCHER said...
yeah, it's over!....sure like 5 stokes was over last week. Tiger will get tough and the field will fall to him.....Happens every time!
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4-10-2009 @ 8:36PM
samwise246 said...
Dispatcher, you are wrong, tiger has NOT won every tournament he has played as you say. He has, same as everyone else, lost more than he has won.
4-10-2009 @ 8:30PM
milu84 said...
Tiger is last one that anybody can count out!
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4-10-2009 @ 8:43PM
INFINETX2 said...
saturday is giddy up!!!!!!this separates the men from i feel lucky today guys!!!!!!
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4-10-2009 @ 10:45PM
steelerman said...
Ryan you are laughable. If you check your info you`ll see that Tigers best scoring avg day is always saturday where he averages a 68. Theres no reason he can`t pick up 3 or 4 tomorrow and if i`m not mistaken in 2005 on sunday morning he went from 4 down to tied for the lead in a matter of 30 min, and a 3 stroke lead after 90 min.
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4-11-2009 @ 12:17AM
John said...
That's some crack journalism there! The guy comes from 5 back in 1 round at Bay Hill, but 7 back with 36 holes left, behind 2 guys that have ZERO major victories, and its over? Please. Don't quit your day job man.
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4-11-2009 @ 6:22AM
dtruckdrivinfool said...
7 shots is nothing, 3 birds and 3 bogies and its all even. When you have Tiger in your rearview mirror you know he's just waiting for you to cave-in and screww up...then he pounces on your butt and drops 40 footers or some god awful arch on a wavy green. This is FAR from over.
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4-11-2009 @ 7:57AM
hilryshaves said...
"Masters hopes over" ?? this moron should be fired for that headline alone..how could anyone in their right mind, who isn't a racist, read beyond that ridiculous headline?! this dope has no credibility..
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4-11-2009 @ 9:02AM
maestro62 said...
Hey let's talk about the leaders!!!!!!!! Tigger gets too much press already. Let's share a little!!!!!!!
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4-11-2009 @ 3:50PM
anthonye1 said...
Never count Tiger Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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4-12-2009 @ 1:19AM
Judy said...
There are people that remember the Saturday Night Live News article about the Chicago Bears and the reply always was " da Bears". The same holds true in golf,what is a mere 7 strokes when we're dealing with da Tiger.
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4-12-2009 @ 6:21AM
Roger said...
Da Tiger is tired and troubled about all his unknown friends .What's up friends ?
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4-12-2009 @ 5:50PM
gloria said...
I always root for Tiger Wood I look forward to when he comes back here to play Hes the greatest and it an't over til the last ball falls Go get them Tiger you look good in green
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