For the first time in his career, Tiger Woods may not make the cut at the Memorial Tournament. Woods, who has qualified for the tournament 17 times, struggled early but could have saved his day after a late rally.
After shooting a 71 on Thursday, Woods came in low Friday 1. He was five strokes behind leader Tony Finau. After Thursday’s performance, Woods said he was nervous about competing after a five-month absence as a result of the events canceled due to the coronavirus.
Through three holes on Friday, it looked like Woods might gain some ground in the competition. Woods, who started the day on hole 10, birdied on hole 12, leading him to 2 in the tournament. Things just went downhill from there.
Woods made bogeys on two of the next three holes to match him in the tournament. Then he bogeyed at hole 17 to take it to 1. At hole 1, things really fell apart. Woods was in a good position early, but ended up in a bunker beyond the green. He needed six shots to recover, scoring a double bogey in the hole. That led Woods to 3. Woods followed that by bogeying at hole 2, dropping him to 4.
Woods remained 4 after the next three holes, but dropped to 5 on Hole 6. With only three holes remaining, Woods was officially in danger of losing the cut.
With the pressure on, Woods delivered. He birdied on hole 7 and hole 8 to bring it to hole 3.
Woods immediately got into trouble on the 9th hole, hitting his first shot against a tree. But recovered to match. The day ended at 3 o’clock.
That puts Woods in danger of missing the cut at the event.
Woods’ fate is now out of his hands. If his competitors shoot well on Friday afternoon, Woods won’t make the cut at the Memorial Tournament. Woods will need the group to perish to fight, which could narrow the cut line and allow Woods to move forward.
Until Friday’s first round, Finau and Ryan Palmer are tied for the lead at the Memorial Tournament at 9 under.
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