People were happy to know Tiger Woods made his 24th consecutive cut at the 2024 Masters. But things are moving very slowly for him. Woods had five holes left from the opening round, as the play was suspended at 7:52 PM due to darkness. The 15-time Major winner started his second round in about 30 minutes but looked a tad bit tired. Not that it has affected his game dramatically. Tiger Woods picked up three birdies in the first nine. However, social media users believe he slowed down the group.

In fact, his playing partner, Max Homa, has been accused of slow play as well. Apparently, the grouping, which includes Jason Day, took 1.5 hours to complete the remaining first round on Friday. Notably, Augusta National hasn’t issued any slow play warnings to any of the three. Yesterday, they took 2 hours and 50 minutes in the first nine.

It’s extremely rare for the Tour or either of the four major organizers to penalize players for this. Augusta National punished Tianlang Guan, but that was 11 years ago. “You must try to play faster,” Paramor, the rules official, has stated. Despite three warnings, the teenager exceeded the clock and later tastefully accepted his mistake.

But Woods, for the record, was put on the clock at the 2019 Memorial. His group had included Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Rose. They were put on the clock during the final nine holes because they were lagging behind one hole. However, do you remember how the star player was always against slow play?

The 15-time Major champion, in fact, wrote about the issues with quite a fervor on his blog in 2008. Four years later, Tiger Woods emphasized that players should be penalized; a stroke would be a better way to curb the problem. “If get a warning, you get the [stroke] penalty. I think that would speed it up.” Woods’s staunch disapproval of slow play gave fans more ammunition to attack the five-time Masters champion.

Fans drag Tiger Woods through the mud!

TGL, the futuristic league, helmed by Rory McIlroy and Woods, will punish players for slow play. There will be a 40-second shot clock as well. TGL, unlike the Tour, doesn’t offer any warning. Ironically, at Augusta National, Woods had to face the clock issue.

“It has taken the Woods group 1hr to play 3 holes. Probably safe from a slow play penalty though as they are not young amateurs…,” tweeted one user. Another fan tweeted, “Slow play abound today. Rounds going to take 6 hours.” That was a cause for headaches for one fan, who termed it “atrocious.”

Last year, Brooks Koepka said that the group ahead of him was agonizingly slow to move around. This year, the five-time Major, winner has been paired with Brian Harman, who is notorious for his pre-shot regimen. But this fan believes Homa has outdone them all.

Augusta National most recently penalized Anna Davis for slow play at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. The rules officials docked one stroke from the 2022 champion. Davis eventually missed the cut by one shot. Fans believe that the same pro-activeness is missing when it is needed the most.

The golf world is buzzing with excitement as the 2024 Masters Tournament is almost halfway! At the start of the competition, 89 players started, but after Friday, the top 50 on the leaderboard, including ties, will continue through the weekend.

Finishing the second round at par and overall at 1 over, the 15x major champion has made the cut for the 24th consecutive time. When Woods made the cut, the projected cutline was 3 over. This might be Woods’s 24th straight cut, but he still has a long way to go to beat the record for the highest number of cuts made at the Masters, which is 37 by Golden Bear.

Bryson DeChambeau leads the field at the moment, along with other leaderboard toppers such as Scottie Scheffler, Max Homa, Nicolai Hojgaard, Danny Willet, Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler, Ludvig Aberg, and others who have also made the cut. Neal Shipley, an amateur, finished at 3 over, and made the cut. At present, the projected cut line for the tournament is 4 over. Many other golfers on the leaderboard will be playing through the weekend!

We will not know until the conclusion of the second round who will make the cut, but for now, the weekend competition looks enthralling!! While we discuss who made the cut for the gameplay on Saturday and Sunday, it is important to know who failed to shine through during the first two rounds!!

Statistics indicate that Keegan Bradley’s prospects of making it to the weekend are still quite slim. There are also top players including the likes of Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnsontiger woods, golf

, Brian Harman, Bubba Watson, and Viktor Hovland, who will have barely any chance of advancing to the later rounds. The most disturbing performance came by DJ who finished the second round with a cumulative score of 13 over.

Golf – The inaugural LIV Golf Invitational – Centurion Club, Hemel Hempstead, Britain – June 7, 2022 Dustin Johnson of the U.S. during a press conference Action Images via Reuters/Paul ChildsAn amateur player in the competition, Stewart Hagestad, who finished round 2 with a final score of 8 over, also missed the cut.

The rules of the sport are no bar when it comes to athletes learning from each other. After the Buffalo Bills got knocked out of the Super Bowl run by the Chiefs in the playoffs, their quarterback shifted his focus to his other hobby: golf! Josh Allen even had a star-struck moment earlier this year when he met one of the only two athletes who can make his “heart beat faster.”

The Wyoming product played basketball in high school and is an avid golfer to this day. So it’s no surprise that Allen’s childhood heroes were two all-time greats, Kobe Bryant and Tiger Woods. In a recent golf outing, Allen revealed his childhood idols and how meeting the golf legend inspired him.

The Bills QB is spending his time off from football playing his second favorite sport, golf. In a game cum conversation with Grant Hovart, he talked about his meeting with Woods in Feb at Genesis Invitational Pro-Am. He also shared how the 82-time PGA Tour winner had him fully invested as a kid, so much so that a young Allen would feel the “pressure” when his idol was in a tough spot in a game.

“It was him and Kobe growing up where if they were on TV like turn it on let me- stress it out with them like my heart would beat. Like if he’s sitting over like a four or five footer -I’m feeling the pressure,” said Allen.

The 2018 draft pick shared how he got the chance to pick Woods’ brain at the Riviera Country Club and how the experience and learnings would stay with him forever. “It was sweet, though,” said the quarterback. “- [to] get a talk with him and ask him questions, his mindset like stuff – I’ll take with me and never forget.”  

While Allen couldn’t be happier meeting and getting the chance to delve into his idol’s mindset face-to-face, the golf legend was also pleasantly surprised at the 27-year-old athlete’s curiosity.

Woods was impressed by Allen’s sports IQ

The 11-time PGA Player of the Year admired the young quarterback’s love for golf, especially the sport being of the opposite nature as football.  “Josh’s game, considering what he does for a living and the pounding that he takes on the body, the fact that he’s been able to play this game, you can see the enjoyment that he has and the addiction that he has for the game of golf,” said Woods, as per Golf Digest.

The golf star further explained how athletes’ brains work similarly, no matter what sport they play. So when he saw Allen ask away questions to gain insight for bettering his game, Woods recognized the true sportsman in him.

“He asked unbelievable questions today about how he can get better that only athletes really can ask those type of questions,” he said. “That’s what’s neat about being able to play with athletes, see how their brain works. We’re very similar across the board whether we’re playing football or golf or baseball, how we look at things are very consistent.”

This was Allen’s second meeting with the golf icon and brought out the sports nerd inside in the Bills’ quarterback. As for Woods, he was proud and charmed by his young partner’s sports acumen.

The Augusta National is known for a multitude of reasons. One is the legendary Masters tournament, which takes place every April. Another is that their clubhouse has an endless menu. Talk about all you can eat! Then there is the beautiful Par 3 course, a course inside a course. With iconic structures like the Magnolia Road and the Crow’s Nest, there is no lack of beauty on the course.

There is, however, one thing that only a select few get to enjoy about the course. It is not something that visitors, players both amateur and professional, and not even the winner of the Masters has access to. and that is the ever-elusive membership in the ANGC. Only a few professional golfers have membership in the Augusta National Golf Club, and five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods is not one of them.

The club’s inclusion standards are called into question in this discussion. Woods’s absence suggests that the ANGC’s standards are separate from excellence in the sport. Some people speculate that Augusta National’s selection method might give weight to character or personal connections in addition to golf skills.

Tiger Woods’ turbulent personal life and issues may have influenced Augusta National’s decision to not grant him membership, despite his unmatched success on the golf field. Woods’ scandalous affairs and personal issues in 2009 created a huge media storm and tarnished his reputation. In the wake of these controversies, there is speculation that Augusta National’s renowned exclusive and conservative membership would have been reluctant to invite Woods.

Who are the club’s most esteemed members?

Although the precise number of members is unknown, 300 is said to be the approximate figure. Golf legends such as Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer as well as well-known businesspeople are on the list. Interestingly, John Harris, a well-known amateur, and Jack Nicklaus are the only confirmed members who are professional golfers along with Annika Sorenstam.

Augusta National Golf Club has a reputation for having strict membership requirements and a closed application procedure that initiates with the invitation. Members pay yearly dues of a few thousand dollars and an initiation fee of reportedly forty thousand dollars.

In 1990, Ron Townsend became the first African American member. Notable individuals from beyond the golf world are also members of the club, including former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower and business moguls Bill Gates and Warren Buffet.

The rigorous membership selection process at Augusta National is a reflection of the club’s longstanding customs. The club’s allure is enhanced by its emphasis on exclusivity and membership restricted to a particular type of person. Although, interestingly, Tiger Woods isn’t on the membership list, this doesn’t take away from his golf accomplishments or his standing as a Masters icon.

Augusta National is already bracing for inclement weather. Officials have decided to delay the entry for patrons on Thursday. Gates were scheduled to open at 7.30 a.m. previously. The officials have yet to notify the new timings as of now. This will be the fifth time since 2019, that weather has impacted the Masters in one way or the other.

Furthermore, the parking facilities have been closed as well. In a social media post, Augusta National officials noted that further updates will be provided by 5 a.m EDT. If the gate entries are delayed, there are chances that it will further impact the course of play.

The weather forecast for Thursday predicts thunderstorms in the morning with a 92% chance of rain. However, the rain is expected to subside, with overcast conditions lasting throughout the day. But gutsy winds (15mph–20 mph) come into play as well. For comparison, the 35-40 mph winds spoiled the party at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

However, that’s only for the opening round. The chances of rain will reduce to 24% at night before a cloudy sky gives way to a sunny Friday. There is less than a 10% chance of rain for the next three days. Contrarily, the temperature is expected to go as high as 85F on Sunday.

The first group of players, Eric Von Rooyen and Jake Knapp, are poised to tee off at 8.00 a.m EDT. Before that, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson will start the first Major of the season with a ceremonial tee-off at 7.40 am EDT. It is unclear whether tee times will be changed or not.

Notably, Masters was played rain-free from 2014-18. Last year, multiple trees collapsed because of a heavy storm, and the third round was pushed to Sunday. In fact, heavy rains forced the final round of the 1973 & 1983 Masters to Monday as well. That looks highly unlikely now because of Augusta’s superior course management.

Augusta National has never shied away from adapting to the demands of modernity. One more piece of evidence of that is hidden below the greens of the par 72, 7555-yard layout. The SubAir System, first incorporated in the 1990s in a few holes, has now made way to the entire course. Primarily, used for turn management, the system drains excessive moisture from the putting greens and the fairways.

The system is connected to the drainage system below the surface. The grates you noticed on the hillside were created for this purpose. Hence, a faster ‘recovery’ for the greens after a heavy rain. Also the reason why, two to four inches of rain don’t cause a headache to Augusta National officials. Nevertheless, the strong wind will dictate the game on Thursday.

Tiger Woods‘s daughter, Sam Woods, shares a special bond with her father. Despite her parents being divorced, Sam remains an important part of the former couple’s life; she was the one who inducted her father into the World Golf Hall of Fame. She has been spotted a few times outside the ropes to support her father until she served as her father’s caddie during the 2023 PNC Championship. With this gig in mind, the question arises: Will she be holding onto her father’s bag at the 2024 Masters too?

Masters, being a huge and prestigious golf event, has different rules for caddying from the PNC Championship. It requires much experience reading the greens to assist the player in a very precise way to get the desired shot. Although she managed it before, at Augusta National, it won’t be possible.

First and foremost, the 15x major champion’s daughter lacks the experience and depth of knowledge required to play on a tricky golf course such as Augusta. Sam is into soccer, and hence her knowledge of inside the ropes is limited.  The rules and regulations of ANGC for a looper are different, and using carts is something that is not allowed by the caddies. Hence, Sam won’t be able to move her dad’s bag in a cart like she managed in the 2023 PNC Championship.

Along with guiding the player on the tricky holes, the preparation and patience required at Augusta is to be very professional. The difficulty level of the holes starts right from the 1st one, and the 7th green was created to get wedge shots rather than iron.

Additionally, tips regarding dealing with other intricacies and bad weather requires a lot of experience in golf. In the same vein, knowing “when what, and where” to speak plays a very important role too as a caddie, “a good caddie does three things: show up, keep up, and shut up” said Five-time Masters winner Jack Nicklaus.

Unfortunately, Sam is not experienced enough to carry her father’s bag throughout the competition in the Masters. For now, the good thing is, she can caddie for the PGA Tour legend in the Par 3 contest, where the family members are allowed to hold golfers’ bags, and even hit a few shots on their behalf. Her experience of caddying her father was not completely unnoticeable in the PNC Championship, as she played the role well, and garnered a lot of attention.

Sam’s caddying experience for her father

Sam has caddied for the first time for the goat in the 2023 PNC Championship, and her father was nothing but proud and happy! “Sam was fantastic. This is the first time she’s ever done this, so it couldn’t have been any more special for all of us,” said the 48-year-old. Woods has certainly turned the formerly known Father/Son Tournament into the Father/Daughter Tournament.

The photos and videos from Sam’s gig went viral and she was also seen cleaning the clubs and chatting with her father after a shot. They discussed their available clubs, and after he made his selection, Sam arranged the bag back. She was fulfilling her duties as a caddie and also seemed to observe the game very carefully.

It appears Tiger Woods is still plagued by health concerns before the Masters. The golfer had been out of the game for a long time owing to the accident in 2021 and the subsequent surgeries and had made a comeback to the sport a while back. Now, months after his return and a week before the first major championship, Notah Begay III has much to say about the 48-year-old’s health.

A tweet was shared by TWLEGION on its X handle (formerly known as Twitter) mentioning the insights that the American professional had about Woods. “For the past couple of months, he’s been trying to find a way to recover,” said Begay before pointing out the two main issues, “Can he walk the 72 holes?” and “Can he recover, from one round to the next?” the last of which remains the biggest question for the analyst. That’s not all, he also said, “He’s got zero mobility in that left ankle and really has low-back challenges now, which he knew he was going to have,” all the while alluding to the constraints that the legend has to face.

Meanwhile, commenting on the plan of action that the 15-time major is currently cooking up against the limitations, the 51-year-old said, “He’s trying to formulate a strategy and approach that he can work within given the constraints that he’s presented with.” However, he was unsure of whether it would work out in the end as he expressed uncertainty regarding the same, “I really don’t know and he’s not going to know either until he gets out there and figures out whether the way he’s prepared for this year’s Masters is going to work for him.”

Back in February, the 15-time major champ had withdrawn from the Genesis Invitational because of the flu. However, even before the unfortunate decision, Tiger Woods was not in his best form, courtesy of his back. Interestingly, at the par-4 18th on the first day at Riviera, the golfer had shanked the ball leading to many raising concerns regarding his recovery.

“Well, my back was spasming the last couple of holes and it was locking up,” said Mr. T in the post-round interview as he frustratingly recalled, “I came down and it didn’t move and I … shanked it.” Even the professional was visibly bewildered as he added, “It’s been a while, definitely been a while,” while alluding to the shank.

Moreover, Woods was also quizzed on his ankle, which he had shed worrying light on back in December 2023. Meanwhile, he replied, “Foot’s good. Leg’s a little bit sore, things are a little bit sore, but that’s to be expected. That’s nothing.” Although he did brush the uneasiness away, it appears the recent report just before the Masters paints a different picture. But even so, his latest appearance at Augusta and the recently ended Seminole Pro-Member give much expectation to the fans.

The 82-time PGA Tour champ was recently spotted at Augusta National while scouting the golf course ahead of the first major of the year. This attempt to better prepare for the Masters Tournament, especially after his Genesis Invitational WD, sheds a hopeful light on the followers of the 48-year-old.