Golf, Augusta Masters: Woods passes the cut, Molinari does not

It’s another small piece of Tiger Woods’ legend, small because it’s not a victory, but still important and historic: Tiger passed the cut at the Augusta Masters, the 23rd in a row. It is a record equaled, an achievement that was only matched by Gary Player (1959-82) and Fred Couples (1983-2007). Impressive because Woods has never missed the pro cut, the only time he was out was in 1996 when he was still an amateur, a sign of a continuity of performance, and excellence, that has no equal in modern golf. Between injuries and various incidents he had to miss the 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2021 editions, but every time he seemed destined to leave the scene he always found a way to amaze.

Rain determining factor

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Tiger has some thanks to his best friend on the Tour, Justin Thomas, who went into trouble and bogey after bogey drove up the chop: he stayed out, but allowed Woods into the weekend. The problem for the 39 players who had to show up at the field at dawn to close out the unfinished round on Friday was the rain. First light and then more and more intense. Who didn’t get scared too much was the Spaniard Jon Rahm who closed for a total of 134 strokes (65, 69, -10), two lengths behind the leader Brooks Koepka (65, 67; -12). The putt pocketed from outside the green at 17 was extraordinary while the universal flood was descending on him, a pity about the bogey at 18. A record also for Fred Couples who at 63 becomes the oldest player to pass the cut in the history of the Masters.

Molinari outside

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Nothing to do for Francesco Molinari who pays for a bad second round in 76 shots (+4): without the bogey at 18 he would have passed the cut, so instead he has to say goodbye to the tournament. The hope is that it will not be for the last time because the exemption he had won by winning the British Open has expired and therefore from now on he will have to regain the right to participate in the Masters. Another excellent victim of the 2023 Masters is Rory McIlroy, also out for the cut.