MIKE KEEGAN: Crowds now flock to see Tiger Woods in hope rather than expectation – and while he still delivers flashes of brilliance, how much more pain to his body will he shoulder?
- Rain delays mean Tiger Woods will finish his day two-over through 11 holes
- He still attracts plenty of spectators but in hope rather than expectation
- Woods looked in pain walking during his opening rounds at the tournament
There were glimpses. There always are.
For about eight, glorious seconds at the sixth – as the ball sailed through the air towards the hole on the dramatic, par-three – we had Tiger Woods back.
The swing was almost as elegant as the surroundings, the strike as beautiful. Behind the tee box, crowds stood seven deep.
As soon as it left the club those in line could see that it was all over it. But it pitched a fraction too long, he missed a short putt and the cheers turned to groans.
At the eighth, following a hangover bogey at the seventh, a precise chip left Woods with an unmissable roll in for a birdie. In the stands, the applause was rapturous.
Tiger Woods will finish his day at The Masters two over through 11 holes due to rain delays
The 15-time major champion looked in pain at times during the first two rounds at Augusta
During those snapshots, it all makes sense. It is what the hordes flock to see. What they remember, what they want.
But fact is that this is the present, and while Woods continues to draw crowds like no other, they now appear to turn up in hope, rather than expectation. The hope last night was not that he would add a sixth green jacket, but that he would avoid the cut – a cut he has only missed once, in 1996.
It should not be like this, but it is. At the second suspension that ended the day following the tree fall drama, he was two over par and in a tie for 50th. There is work to be done. Once again, many were left wondering how much more of this burden is he likely to shoulder?
Despite his recent injuries, Woods still manages to attract large crowd numbers at Augusta
He will head into Saturday with seven holes to play in a bid to avoid the second round cut
Woods now carries an ever-present limp on his surgically-repaired leg. It has been noticeable that he has often walked the side of these famous hills to minimise the impact. When asked how he felt after Thursday’s disappointing two over par 74 his response was ‘sore’.
The toll that all of this is taking on an already-battered body is unknown. It is clearly not helping. At which point does Woods, a father-of-two, call it quits?
Not yet, certainly. The battle to stay until Sunday is on. His last act on Friday was a nice par save on the 11th at Amen corner, which is currently playing as the most difficult hole on the course. He may need better over the remaining seven.
The breaks may well have aided his cause, allowed him time to recover. Whether it is a fight worth fighting remains to be seen.
