Tiger Woods Shoots 82 at the Masters, His Worst Score at Augusta National

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods would not point to one specific moment when things went bad for him Saturday at the Masters, simply saying “all day” when asked if there was any particular swing that led to any physical issues.

But surely something was amiss during the third round at Augusta National, where Woods shot his worst score in 99 career rounds, an 82 that saw him make two double bogeys on the front nine while appearing to be in discomfort after several swings.

Woods did not cite injuries as an excuse.

“The fact that I was not hitting it very good or putting well,” he said. “I didn't have a very good warmup session, and I kept it going all day today. Just hit the ball in all the places that I know I shouldn't hit it.

“And I missed a lot of putts. Easy, makable putts. I missed a lot of them.”

The 15-time major champion who is making just his second start of 2024 and made the cut with an impressive score of 72 on Friday, fell apart over a four-hole stretch after birdieing the 5th hole.

He played the 6th through 9th holes in 6 over par, making a double bogey-7 at the par-5 8th hole for the first time in his career after also making a double at the 7th. His approach to the 9th green saw him wince after making contact.

That led to a front-nine score of 42, his highest ever at the Masters, his worst being a 40 twice—the first of which came in 1997 when he went on to win the tournament by 12 shots.

Woods hit just eight of 18 greens and needed 34 putts. He finished with two double bogeys, eight bogeys and two birdies.

Woods had shot in the 80s just four times in his career, once during the third round of the 2002 British Open at Muirfield, and three times in 2015, including a career-high 85 at the Memorial Tournament.

Woods, 48, has been plagued by injury issues for years, but returned from a 2017 spinal fusion surgery to win the 2019 Masters, his fifth green jacket.

But late the following year, he had a fourth microdiscectomy, which is higher up on the spine than where it was fused. That is often forgotten as it occurred two months prior to the February 2021 car crash that left him with severe injuries to his lower right leg, ankle and foot. After withdrawing from last year’s Masters, Woods had surgery to fuse the ankle and did not play again until December at the Hero World Challenge.

At the Genesis Invitational in February, Woods withdrew after just six holes during the second round due to the flu. The Masters is his first tournament since then.

He opened with a 73 that saw him have to complete five holes on Friday morning and then shot 72 in blustery conditions on a day it which only one player shoot in the 60s. At 1 over, he was inside the cut number by five shots, setting the Masters record at 24 consecutive made cuts. This is his 26th Masters and he’s never missed the cut as a pro.

That Friday was a long one for Woods and took its toll.

“Oh yeah, it did,” he said.

The lack of golf coming in was a concern as were fears about his health. He played just 24 holes of official golf in 2024.

“I wouldn't say necessarily mental reps,” Woods said. “It's just that I haven't competed and played much. When I had chances to get it flipped around and when I made that putt at 5 (for a birdie), I promptly three-putted 6 and flub a chip at 7 and just got it going the wrong way, and when I had opportunities to flip it, I didn't.”

Woods appeared to be in less distress on the back nine but he still struggled. After pars at the 10th and 11th, he made a bogey at the 12th, birdied the 13th, then made consecutive bogeys at the 14th,  15th, 16th and 17th holes before parring the 18th.

In the past three years, Woods has completed 72 holes just three times. This is his eighth worldwide start since the car crash.

He had suggested in December that he would attempt to play once a month and said Tuesday he hoped to do that by playing in each of the remaining major championships. The PGA Championship at Valhalla in Louisville, Ky.—where Woods won the 2000 PGA—is May 16-19.

Of more immediate concern was getting ready for an early tee time Sunday.

“My team will get be ready,” he said. “It will be a long night and long warmup session, but we’ll be ready.”