‘Very upset’: Sad Tiger sight after historic capitulation

Tiger Woods was a sad sight on Sunday after his worst ever day at the Masters in a performance that sent rumours flying.

Tiger Woods saw his dream of a record-tying sixth Masters victory collapse in Sunday morning’s third round of the Masters after the worst nine holes of his career in 99 rounds at Augusta National.

A day after setting a record by making the cut in his 24th consecutive Masters, the 48-year-old legend struggled and showed signs of his difficulty walking rounds since suffering severe leg injuries in a 2021 car crash.

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The live TV broadcast reported there were rumours Woods was about to pull the pin on his round and retire — but the American limped through all 18 holes.

He said after the round he will be back for more on Monday morning and is determined to get through 72 holes.

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

Tiger Woods is going down swinging. Jamie Squire/Getty Images/AFP.

Tiger Woods was still the biggest star on the course. Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

One Sky Sports commentator said it was “hard to watch” Woods struggle so bad.

“Tiger will be very upset with this round today,” veteran American golf commentator Butch Harmon said.

“We know when he teed off he thought he had a chance to move up this leaderboard.

“I think playing 23 holes yesterday had to put some wear and tear on his body.

“Still, to have Tiger over the weekend at The Masters is what we’re looking for. It’s a pleasure to have him back.”

Zero fun to watch Tiger Woods right now. Can't even imagine how much pain he is in. Hands are there but the legs just aren't. A reminder he's completed 72 holes just 3 times in the last 3 years.

— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) April 13, 2024

Tiger needs to either get an exception to use a cart or just hang it up. He’s (expectedly) just not there physically and the constant build up and let down every major is getting to be too much. Especially with as much of it dominates the media coverage

— Brian Sutterer MD (@BrianSuttererMD) April 13, 2024

Woods had declared himself in with a chance of taking a sixth green jacket to match the record of Jack Nicklaus after 36 holes.

“I’m here. I have a chance to win the golf tournament,” Woods said on Saturday.

“I’m only eight back.”

Five-time Masters champion Woods had rounds of one-over 73 and par 72 to stand on one-over 145 for 36 holes and had just made a birdie at the fifth following a bogey at the par-3 fourth when disaster struck.

Woods finished Sunday’s front nine bogey, double-bogey, double-bogey, bogey for a front-nine 42 — his worst nine-hole score on either the inward or outward halves of the famed layout.

The 15-time major winner went over the green at the par-3 sixth then missed a five-foot par putt and made bogey.

At the par-4 seventh, Woods smacked his tee shots into trees to the right, then blasted his second into woods on the left side of the hole and sent his third into a greenside bunker before pitching out and missing an 18-foot bogey putt.

It’s a long way around Augusta. Photo by Maddie Meyer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP.

It was his first double-bogey of the week, but only a sign of the trouble to come.

Woods then came to the par-5 eighth, the easiest hole of the week at Augusta National that had never inflicted a double-bogey on any player even in Friday’s swirling winds.

Woods pulled his tee shot into trees left of the fairway, then blasted out to the short grass. He needed two more from there to reach the green and then missed both a 26-foot par putt and a four-footer for bogey.

Battling his form, Woods found a greenside bunker at the ninth, pitched out to nine feet but then missed his par putt for another bogey.

Monday morning will be Tiger’s 100th round on the famous Augusta course.

Originally published as ‘Very upset’: Sad Tiger sight after historic capitulation