(Reuters) – A freakish bounce cost Tiger Woods the chance to finish higher up the leader board in the second round of the Masters on Friday but he remained on course for a shot at winning a fifth green jacket.
The world number one was on the charge late in his round, grabbing a share of the lead and with the Augusta National galleries roaring him on.
He looked certain to take the outright lead on the par-15th hole when he played a near-perfect third shot, when the golfing gods turned against him.
His approach struck the pin, but rather than drop into the hole for an eagle or fall safely for a birdie putt, it ricocheted straight off the flag stick and rolled back across the green into Rae’s Creek.
“The sun was in my eyes, so I knew I started the ball on the flag,” Woods explained. “I didn’t know if I cut it enough, but evidently it was a really good one.
Instead of picking up a shot, Woods was forced to replay the shot and try to salvage a bogey, which he did with a brilliantly executed chip then putt.
“I went back to where I played it from, but I went two yards further back and I took, tried to take two yards off the shot of what I felt I hit.
“I felt that that was going to be the right decision to take off four right there. And I did, it worked out perfectly.”
Woods dropped another shot with a rare three-putt on the final hole to finish with a 71 to reach the halfway point at three-under par, three behind Australian leader Jason Day.
“I really swung the club well and didn’t really get a lot out of this round,” he said.
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