It even sounds odd to say it: Tiger Woods is final amongst these nonetheless taking part in on the Masters.

But after Woods made the minimize at Augusta National on Saturday, all of it went downhill from there. Slogging by means of a rain-drenched, 49-degree day proved an excessive amount of for the aching five-time champion to beat.

The 47-year-old Woods, who continues to be recovering from a 2021 automotive accident that almost value him his proper leg, appeared depressing as he limped by means of a dreadfully lengthy, exhausting day in apparent discomfort, taking part in seven holes within the morning to make the minimize after which seven extra in a gentle downpour earlier than the event was postponed till Sunday.

By the time the horn blew ending play at 3:15 p.m., Woods was alone in final place at 9-over, 22 photographs behind third-round chief Brooks Koepka.

At 6 over by means of seven holes for spherical three, Woods is on tempo for the worst 18 holes of his illustrious Masters profession — topping the back-to-back 78s he posted within the third and fourth rounds ultimately 12 months’s event, the place he completed forty seventh at 13-over 301.

Yes, making the minimize for a twenty third straight time on the Masters as an expert was a serious accomplishment for Woods. It matched a streak set by two different golf greats in Gary Player and Fred Couples.

But a break of greater than two-and-a-half hours between rounds and one more horrible climate day appeared to take its toll on Woods. Players teed off in threesomes from each the back and front 9 as event officers appeared to squeeze in as a lot golf as potential.

Woods’ third spherical began with a bogey on the tenth gap, then progressively received worse. He bogeyed once more at No. 14, then had back-to-back double bogeys after discovering the water on each No. 15 and 16. It marked the primary time he’s ever had consecutive double bogeys on the Masters.

He was simply off the inexperienced in two photographs on the par-4 seventeenth gap when the horn sounded, however he nonetheless had the formidable process of finishing the entrance 9 forward of him.

This clearly wasn’t the 15-time main champion the world has come to know.

In the previous he’s feasted on “moving day,” taking part in the third spherical on the Masters in a mixed 45-under par throughout his 22 appearances as an expert. In reality solely 3 times has Woods not shot par or higher on Saturday at Augusta National previous to this 12 months.

But this was not a type of Saturdays.

Wearing a grey winter hat excessive of a baseball cap, he continued to sludge his method across the course even because the wind chill dipped to 42 levels and the rain pounded him within the face.

In years previous Woods has proven emotion when he’s made a nasty shot, however not on today.

And it gained’t be any simpler on Sunday for Woods, who has stated he's in “constant pain.” Woods has by no means withdrawn from the Masters. Staring at one other 28 1/2 holes to play on Sunday, though with no rain within the forecast, Woods might want to discover a method to re-energize himself if he's to complete the event.