Tiger Woods started a 23-hole stroll aimed toward making Masters historical past whereas three early contenders chased chief Bryson DeChambeau as the primary spherical of the 88th Masters resumed Friday.
There have been 27 gamers from the sector of 89 nonetheless on the course when darkness fell Thursday at Augusta National after the opening spherical was delayed by two and one-half hours because of rain.
Woods, the 48-year-old legend whose 15 main titles embody 5 Masters inexperienced jackets, was one-under par after 13 holes of his first spherical when play was halted, leaving him to complete 5 in spherical one and play a full 18 holes in spherical two.
He suffered extreme leg accidents in a 2021 automotive crash and has struggled to stroll 18 holes since then even after a number of operations, together with a proper ankle fusion final April after plantar fasciitis pressured him to withdraw from the Masters within the third spherical after making the lower.
“I ache every day,” Woods stated on Tuesday.
Woods has made 23 consecutive Masters cuts to share the report with Gary Player and Fred Couples, however he would seize the mark all to himself if he stands within the low 50 and ties after 36 holes.
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This can be his hardest check of main holes in a day since Woods returned from the accident on the 2022 Masters.
Woods, whose most up-to-date main victory got here on the 2019 Masters, arrived on the course earlier than daybreak and labored out on the follow facility in cool situations.
DeChambeau, who fired a seven-under par 65 on Thursday to seize a one-stroke lead over world primary Scottie Scheffler, was set to start his second spherical simply earlier than midday (1600 GMT).
The 2020 US Open winner birdied 5 of the final seven holes in his greatest spherical ever at Augusta National to set the tempo, whereas Scheffler, the 2022 Masters champion, birdied 4 of the ultimate seven to remain on Dechambeau’s heels.
Scheffler, who may be a part of Woods as the one gamers to win the Masters twice whereas atop the rankings, tees off within the afternoon’s penultimate group alongside four-time main winner Rory McIlroy and Tokyo Olympic champion Xander Schauffele.
McIlroy, whose most up-to-date main win got here in 2014, wants a Masters triumph to finish a profession grand slam, a feat achieved solely by Woods, Player, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.
McIlroy fired a 71, his greatest opening spherical on the Masters since 2018, whereas Schauffele, chasing his first main crown, started on 72.
The resumption provided an opportunity to cost for the result in three gamers who have been within the high eight when sundown despatched them off the course.
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Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard, amongst 20 gamers making their first Masters begin, was two off the tempo at 5-under via 15 holes with seven birdies towards two bogeys, together with a birdie sweep via “Amen Corner,” the difficult eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth holes at Augusta National.
Another stroke adrift at 4-under after 13 holes was American Max Homa, who was degree for fourth with England’s Danny Willett, the 2016 Masters winner who accomplished a 68 on Thursday.
Also pushing to maneuver up on the leaderboard was England’s Tyrrell Hatton, who like DeChambeau and defending champion Jon Rahm, was amongst 13 gamers from Saudi-backed LIV Golf within the Masters subject.
Hatton was 3-under via 14 holes.