The Masters 2024, Day 2: Tiger Woods makes history at Augusta National, Aussies Cameron Smith and Cameron Davis in contention

Tiger Woods has created another bit of history at the place where he has won five times, while Aussies Cameron Davis and Cameron Smith remain in contention heading into the weekend. Recap of Day 2 inside.

Another day, another record goes into the books for golf legend Tiger Woods.

Forced to play 23 holes on the second day at the Masters because of poor weather, Woods, 48, made the cut for a 24th-straight time.

The feat took Woods past the previous mark of 23 co-owned by Gary Player and Fred Couples. He is seven shots off the lead shared by 2022 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, fellow Americans Bryson DeChambeau and Max Homa, at six under par.

The two Camerons are flying the flag for Australia, with Davis (-3) and Smith (-1) both inside the top 10 heading into the weekend.

Asked what it meant, Woods made clear he had eyes on a bigger prize.

“It means I have a chance going into the weekend,” he said.

“I’m here. I have a chance to win the golf tournament. I don’t know if they’re all going to finish today, but I’m done. I got my two rounds in. Just need some food and some caffeine, and I’ll be good to go.”

Stopped on a dime. Tiger Woods gets one back on No. 8. #themasterspic.twitter.com/UZ708iiy1q

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2024

Woods also saw off Australian playing partner Jason Day who had said ahead of the match-up: “That’s a good pairing. As long as I beat that old man, I’m happy.”

But Day didn’t, like so many before him.

Max Homa, Woods’ other playing partner, said the experience was “awesome”.

“It really is a dream to get to play with him here. I’ve been saying, I always wanted to just watch him hit iron shots around here, and I was right up next to him,“ he said.

“His short game was so good. I don’t think I can explain how good some of the chip shots he hit today were.

“He’s special. We had a really quick turnaround, and if I was feeling tired and awful, I imagine he was feeling even worse.

“He understands this golf course so well, but he hits such amazing golf shots. His iron play is so good that even when he did miss the green, you could tell he had so much control. And on 18, we had sandblasts for 45 seconds, and I turned around five times so I didn’t get crushed in the face, and he’s standing there like a statue and then poured it right in the middle.

“So all the cliches you hear about him and all the old stories about how he will grind it out, it was fun to see that in person.”

Tiger Woods has made history at Augusta National. Picture: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Woods made a series of critical par saves and a classic chip-in birdie at hole No.6 to card an even par 72 to sit at one over for the tournament.

“I don’t think anyone is going to run off and hide right now, but it’s really bunched. The way the ball is moving on the greens, chip shots are being blown, it’s all you want in a golf course today,“ he said

“I’m tired. I’ve been out for a while, competing, grinding. It’s been a long 23 holes, a long day.

“But (caddie) Lance (Bennett) and I really did some good fighting today, and we’ve got a chance.

“I’ve always loved playing here. I’ve been able to play here since I was 19 years old. It’s one of the honours I don’t take lightly, being able to compete. The years I have missed, I wish I was able to play because there’s such an aura and mystique about playing this golf course that I don’t think that -- unless you have played and competed here, you probably don’t really appreciate it.”

SMITH JOINS DAVIS IN TOP 10

Australian star Cameron Smith has clawed into contention at the Masters.

On a wind-swept day when the leaders backed up, Smith edged to within five shots of the lead, carding a dogged second-round 72.

“I’m pretty proud of the way I hung in there. It was tough,” Smith said.

The 2022 Open champion jumped six spots into a tie for eighth place in the year’s first major.

American trio Bryson DeChambeau (73) - using revolutionary new clubs, world No.1 Scottie Scheffler (72) and Max Homa (71) share the halfway lead at six under.

Cameron Smith has survived the wind at Augusta National to remain under par. Picture: David Cannon/Getty Images

Unsung Australian Cam Davis is tied for fifth place, just three shots off the pace, while Tiger Woods (one over) made a record-breaking 24th-straight cut.

Howling winds were the enemy at Augusta National on Friday but not for Davis.

Growing up grinding on breezy courses in Sydney’s northern beaches held him in good stead, Davis said.

And for 95 minutes, he was the clubhouse leader at the Masters.

“I feel like pars are good scores,” Davis said of his even par 72.

“I had a couple of stumbles, but felt like I battled well and made some nice putts to keep the momentum.

“I’m happy to put my feet up this afternoon.”

Davis, 29, has just one PGA Tour win to his name but was in the calculations of Masters broadcaster Ian Baker-Finch in the lead up to the tournament.

“Cam has got the game if he can finish it off,” Baker-Finch said.

DeChambeau said he hadn’t seen winds like it at the Masters.

“I’ve never experienced Augusta National in these conditions before,” DeChambeau said.

Smith got the worst of the weather but hung in bravely to break par.

Jason Day, Min Woo Lee (both four over) and 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott (six over) all made the cut but Victorian amateur Jasper Stubbs (12 over) won’t be here on the weekend.

“It’s a pretty special place, and obviously the tournament was a bit tough itself with this wind,” Stubbs said.

“I’m still really happy with my week and it’s something I’ll remember forever.”

Rory McIlroy (four over) has struggled again at the Masters, sitting 10 shots back of the leaders.

Big-name stars to miss the cut include reigning US Open champion Wyndham Clark, 2023 British Open winner Brian Harman, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Viktor Hovland, Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler.

Rory McIlroy struggled in round two to be four over par. Picture: David Cannon/Getty Images

AUSSIE CAM DAVIS REMAINS IN TOP 5

Australia’s Cam Davis remains in the hunt at a wind-swept Augusta during round two.

Davis carded a second-round even par 72 to sit at three under - just three shots off the leaders (-6).

“I feel like pars are good scores,” Davis said of the gusty conditions.

“I had a couple of stumbles, but felt like I battled well and made some nice putts to keep the momentum.

“I’m happy to put my feet up this afternoon.”

Cameron Davis has posted another solid round. Picture: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Cameron Smith was Australia’s next best at even par through five holes.

DeChambeau, Max Homa and world No.1 Scottie Scheffler and American were all tied for the lead late in the second round.

The projected cut line was at four over par leaving Jason Day (four over) and Min Woo Lee in the mix.

But 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott (six over) and Victorian amateur Jasper Stubbs won’t be here on the weekend.

Davis, 29, from Forestville in Sydney’s northern beaches has just one PGA Tour win to his name but was in the calculations of Masters broadcaster Ian Baker-Finch in the lead up to the tournament.

“Cam Davis has got the game if he can finish it off,” Baker-Finch said.

Davis’ 72 followed a first round 69.

And maybe there’s a reason Dustin Johnson is No.336 in the world.

“DJ” - one of 13 LIV defectors at Augusta - has endured a horror two days, missing the cut at 13 over par.

As Nick Faldo warned, maybe playing “resort courses in shorts” just doesn’t quite cut it.

Dustin Johnson looks on from the 17th green with his caddie during round two. Picture: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

HOMA REELS IN THE LEADERS

It’s a massive day at the Augusta National with more than one full round to be completed on a hectic second day of the Masters.

Wild weather forced a late start to the opening day, before poor light caused an early end - and that means it was an early start for those who returned to the course early to finish their first round.

Max Homa was three shots behind leader and Bryson DeChambeau, who finished the first round at seven-under, but was reeling in the former US Open champion in the first hour of play and continued to do so throughout his second round.

He played his way to six-under at the 17th, where he almost produced the shot of a tournament. Homa was one shot adrift of then leader Scottie Scheffler at that stage.

Max Homa has started the second day of play at The Masters in superb fashion. Picture: Getty Images

The 16th hole showed absolutely no mercy, claiming plenty of victims as several men, including Jason Day and Brian Harman, watched their tee shot land on the green, turn left and roll into the drink.

Day attracted plenty of attention, and not just for his unfortunate dip, with his sponsored stylings interpretted by some as a cry for help.

Jason Day's Friday fit at #themasters

(📸: @benwalton_gd for Golf Digest) pic.twitter.com/pAJAwQX2jE

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) April 12, 2024

I don't know the terms of the deal but there's no way Jason Day's Malbon check was big enough to justify wearing this out in public, let alone at the Masters. pic.twitter.com/qzCJECOnL4

— Adam Woodard (@AdamWoodard) April 12, 2024

Is someone making Jason Day dress like this? I feel like he’s being pranked pic.twitter.com/y1A5IXbsTq

— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) April 12, 2024

WOODS MAKES HISTORY

Tiger Woods has made Masters history on Friday at Augusta National, as his surgically repaired legs and back stood the strain of walking 23 holes.

The 15-time major champion stood on one-under par through 13 holes when Thursday’s opening round of the 88th Masters was halted by darkness, the start having been delayed more than two hours by morning rain showers.

Woods, who shared 17th at the end of day one, is trying to make the cut in his 24th consecutive Masters to break the record streak he shares with Gary Player and Fred Couples.

Tiger Woods tees off down 18 during the second round. Picture: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

But to do it, Woods, who suffered severe leg injuries in a 2021 car crash and underwent right ankle fusion surgery last April, needed to finish five holes from round one, then cope with walking 18 more in the second round. He did that and finished one over par, eight shots off the lead.

“It’s certainly one of the more hillier walks we have on tour,” Woods said of the famed 7,775-yard Augusta layout.

“We’re just meandering back and forth across that hillside. So, yeah, it is a long walk.”

Cameron Davis led his big-name Australian compatriots after the first day.

A three-under 69 puts Davis within reach of the leaders, tied for sixth place.

Augusta’s graveyard 12th hole again got the better of Cameron Smith.

Tiger Woods is chasing history at the 2024 Masters Tournament. Picture: Getty Images

Smith, whose Masters dream drowned in Rae’s Creek two years ago, found the same water on Thursday, posting a one under 71.

Jason Day, playing alongside Woods, was even par through 13 holes and is among those to return early to complete his first round.

Woods is the only player in the last 20 years to claim a green jacket after being outside the top 10 following the first round.

They’re all chasing former US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who once boldly declared that Augusta National was really a “par 67”.

DeChambeau stormed to the lead at the Masters, but that lead was curtailed with a number of golfers making moves late on day one, led by Scottie Scheffler’s charge.

DeChambeau fired eight birdies and a bogey to card a stunning seven under 65 to launch his Masters campaign.

Originally published as The Masters 2024, Day 2: Tiger Woods makes history at Augusta National, Aussies Cameron Smith and Cameron Davis in contention