Tiger Woods ended the 2024 Masters in last place – or 60th, if you’d prefer – on 16-over after rounds of 73, 72, 82, and 77 at Augusta National Golf Club this week. 304 was his highest total score as a pro and the third round featured his worst Major championship tally over 18 holes.
For just the third time in a professional career spanning almost 30 years, Woods ended a tournament in which he made the cut at the bottom of the pile.
Thanks to Sports Illustrated’s Bob Harig, we know the other two to be The 2015 Memorial “where he shot a third-round 85” and the Genesis Invitational in 2020 where Woods shot a final-round 77 in his last event before Covid.
But to look at the 15-time Major champion’s score alone and say he is finished, that he will never win a competitive four-round event ever again, or that he cannot at least contend – would be foolish.
The man himself, in his post-tournament press conference, was equally optimistic. He said: “It was a good week. It was a good week all around. I think that coming in here, not having played a full tournament in a very long time, it was a good fight on Thursday and Friday. Unfortunately, yesterday, it didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted it to.”
Nevertheless, one of the most talented golfers ever to have graced the game has just shown that – while the path may not be totally straightforward given the limitations of his body – the skill of a born performer and heart of a lion (or Tiger) remains.
Plus, if we’re discussing why this week was actually a success, the sheer consistency and density of the galleries at Augusta – as well as the predicted booming TV viewing figures – prove that, whatever you think of the man, he is a serious draw for golf.
And at a time where the professional level of the sport (on the men’s side) is arguably doing its best to eat itself alive, a brief moment of respite when watching one of the all-time greats is surely worth celebrating?
Woods has only played one competitive round all year. That was in February at the Genesis before he withdrew due to flu-like symptoms. He would later knock it around in a more leisurely setting at the Seminole Pro-Member, but they could hardly be classed as game-day intensity reps.
Before that, and after withdrawing from a wet Masters in April 2023, the 48-year-old had…
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