Tiger Makes The Cut, Is Right In The Mix Just 10 Shots Back
Fusion Boy has made the cut at Torrey Pines on the number and is right in the mix just 10 shots back. Very exciting. It was another peculiar day for Tiger – he made a lot of TERRIBLE swings, hit a lot of mediocre shots, but holed a long putt and salvaged another round with some HEROIC short-game prowess.
Like here, where Nick Faldo gave him a “1 in 20″ chance of getting up and down.
Tiger again began his round with another horrific pull/hook on the first, resulting in a disappointing par on the par five 10th. On the 13th, he snap hooked another drive, this time finding a hazard and making double. It took until his 10th of the day (the North Course’s 1st) for him to turn it around, holing this 50+ footer for bird.
Despite some really loose swings, Tiger posted a 3-under 33 coming home, including 4 birdies, and made the cut on the number. Here’s the full card.
So, how are we feeling thus far? Well his swing does not look as controlled as it did in the Bahamas. Albany is significantly wider off the tee, so it’s no surprise he drove it better there than here, but through the bag he’s not as sharp tee to green. Three fairways today? Not good. Conversely, his chipping is MUCH IMPROVED. We came in believing it’s easier to chip here than in the Bahamas, and Tiger did blade a crucial, straightforward pitch on his 17th hole today, but he has hit at least a handful of Tiger-esque chips that’ve kept him alive this week.
That’s important. Even more important — he’s healthy. Tiger made several FULL TILT lashes yesterday and today that an injured man simply can’t make. Brandel Chamblee noted on last night’s Golf Central that Tiger is swinging around 118 mph this week versus 114 mph last year. An injured back simply can’t produce those numbers.
He’s rusty, sure. There were some questionable moments, no doubt. But in just Tiger’s second official Tour start in three years, he beat half the field and made the cut at one of the PGA Tour’s tougher venues.
Trust the process.