AUGUSTA, Ga. — For the second straight day Saturday, Tiger Woods made Masters history.
Only this time, it was a mark the 15-time major champion wanted to avoid.
After setting a Masters record with 24 consecutive cutouts on Friday, Woods shot a career-worst score of 10-over 82 in the third round of his 26th tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. This was the highest round of a major championship in his career.
Woods, a five-time Masters champion, was 11 over after 54 holes and tied for 52nd place at the end of the third round.
Asked Saturday what his biggest challenge was, Woods said, “The fact that I wasn't hitting very well or putting very well.” “I didn't have a very good warm-up session, so I just kept doing that all day today. I just hit the ball where I knew not to hit it.”
“And I missed a lot of putts. They were easy, easy putts to make. I missed a lot of putts.”
Woods didn't get off to a bad start in the third round, starting the day at 1 over after 36 holes. The 48-year-old made pars on his first three holes, including a good save from the bottom of the scoreboard on the par-4 third hole.
Woods hit a 38.5-foot birdie attempt on the par-3 fourth to get through the hole, then missed 6 feet for bogey for par. But then he made his first birdie of the day on the par-4 fifth, sinking a 19-foot putt to bring his round back to even par.
From there, Woods' round turned into a disaster. He hit a bogey on the 6th par-3 and a double bogey on the 7th par-4. On the seventh, Woods hit his tee shot into the pine straw, punched out of the trees and pulled his approach shot to the left. He then hit a chip shot into a greenside bunker. He missed an 18-foot bogey attempt.
It was Woods' first double bogey on No. 7 in the 99th round of the Masters. Woods appeared tired throughout his walk around Augusta National on Saturday after playing 23 holes, unable to finish his rain-delayed opening round on Friday due to darkness. He had only played 24 holes in a PGA Tour event before the Masters.
“I wouldn't necessarily say you need mental reps,” Woods said. “I just haven't been competitive or played that much. When I had a chance to turn it over and I made that putt on the fifth, I immediately three-putted on the sixth and chipped in on the seventh. I went the wrong way.'' I had a chance to turn it around and I didn't. ”
The rounds just got worse. On the par-5 8th hole, he hit his tee shot into the trees on the left. He punched out and hit his approach shot 40 yards in front of the green. His chip shot was short and he missed 4 feet for bogey.
Woods became the first player in this tournament to make a double bogey on the 8th hole. It was the first time he had consecutive double bogeys at the Masters.
Woods missed his 9-foot par attempt on the par-4 ninth and made bogey. His 6-over 42 in his first nine innings was his worst at the Masters and tied for worst in a major (third round of the 2002 British Open Championship).
England's Tyrrell Hatton, who played with Woods on Saturday, said, “Obviously he didn't hit it as well as I wanted, but he also putted well, the greens were very fast.'' “You guys don't realize that even a 2.5-foot putt is brutal. They turn too much. If you start an inch off the starting line, it's going to miss.”
Woods stood straight and grimaced after hitting a shot from behind a tree on the 9th, but still had his back turned at the 10th tee box.
“Oh, yeah, I was,” Woods said when asked how exhausted he felt playing 23 holes on Friday.
Woods started at No. 2 and No. 9 with consecutive pars. After making bogey on the 12th, he hit an 8-footer for birdie on the par-5 13th. He then suffered four consecutive bogeys from 14th to 17th.
Woods had 10 bogeys or fewer on Saturday, the most in a single round at a major tournament, according to ESPN Stats.
After withdrawing from last year's Masters Tournament before the rain-delayed third round resumed due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot, Woods seemed determined to return Sunday.
“My team will prepare me,” Woods said. ”[They] It was wonderful. It's going to be a long night and a long warm-up session, but we'll be ready. ”