Tiger Woods Will Battle to Make Masters Cut After Opening-Round 74

Woods hit some good shots on Thursday at Augusta, but consistency wasn't there. He trails the leaders by nine strokes.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Joe LaCava sees it up close, understands within reason what is going on, does his best to guide his beat-up boss around the course, thinking how great it would be for Tiger Woods to be healthy.

We’ve known for years that he is not, back injuries followed by a severe foot and ankle injury due to a car crash diminishing the abilities of one of the game’s greatest champions, who nonetheless is trying to compete against the world’s best despite all the obstacles.

Woods played the first round of the Masters on Thursday and he appeared to be uncomfortable. LaCava interjected.

“I don’t think he’s ever going to be comfortable,’’ LaCava said after Woods shot 74 at Augusta National. “It’s five hours. You’re grinding more mentally. Not that you’re not trying in the practice rounds, but it’s nine holes. You’re not going through the motions but you’re more relaxed. So today you’re grinding.

“I think you’re grinding even more once you get 2 or 3 over par on the front nine and when you know especially the guys you are playing with (Viktor Hovland 65, Xander Schauffele 68) are under par. You know it’s kind of there if you’re playing decent. I think you put more heat on yourself. But I thought he played O.K. Didn’t get a lot out of the round, probably the highest he could have shot.’’

Woods made five bogeys and three birdies, hitting 13 of 18 greens but needing 32 putts. He trails the leaders by nine shots.

The problem was not hitting the ball close enough. Woods chipped close for a birdie at the par-5 eighth, made a 30-footer for birdie at the 15th and knocked an iron to 8 feet for birdie at the 16th. He three-putted twice.

Woods made five bogeys and three birdies in his opening round at the Masters :: Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated

“I felt like I drove it good,’’ Woods said. “I just didn't do the job I need to do to get the ball close. Today was the opportune time to get the round under par, and I didn't do that today. Most of the guys are going low. This was the day to do it. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be a little bit better, a little bit sharper, and kind of inch my way through it.’’

Woods would only say that his right leg is sore, and that seemed obvious. Still dealing with the effects of 2021 car crash, Woods is playing just his fifth official event since returning at last year’s Masters, where he remarkably made the cut and finished 47th.

He withdrew from the PGA Championship and missed the cut at the British Open, then tied for 45th at the Genesis Invitational in February.

There are plenty of signs of good play from Woods, numerous examples of good drives or excellent iron shots. But consistency is not there, and getting it is difficult given how little Woods is able to put into preparing.

Nobody knows how much time he took off after the Genesis and when he got back to practicing. But it doesn’t appear he did much playing and walking. LaCava visited Woods in Florida at the Medalist for two days last week.

“Back yard, Medalist; game wasn’t great, but each day he worked pretty hard at it. Or as hard as he can now,’’ LaCava said. “You can’t do it all day. We walked and rode, did a little bit of both. He wanted to save himself. The idea wasn’t to test it per se. Walk a little when you can. And save yourself. That’s the game plan going forward.’’

Woods arrived Sunday and played with just a putter and wedges. He played nine holes on Monday and Tuesday and did not come to the course at all Wednesday, which is somewhat unusual. “I don’t think he wanted to be on his feet for a long time,’’ LaCava said. “It was more toward saving himself.’’

It makes sense – and it doesn’t. If Woods overdoes it while preparing, he risks not getting to play at all. If he doesn’t prepare enough, he’s not going to be competitive.

And so it goes at one of the most strenuous walks in the game, a 7,500-yard course with severe undulation.

After a solid drive at the 18th, Woods got a bad break as his ball came to rest close to a bunker, necessitating an award stance and leading to a bogey. He's currently outside of the cut line, which is the top 50 and ties. It also means he’ll need a good round on Friday to avoid missing the cut at the Masters for the first time as a pro.

A late tee time (1:24 p.m.) means more time to rest and recover. It also means the possibility of dealing with bad weather, which is expected to arrive early Friday afternoon – according to the weather forecast.

“This is going to be an interesting finish to the tournament with the weather coming in,’’ Woods said. “If I can just kind of hang in there, maybe kind of inch my way back, hopefully it will be positive towards the end.’’