AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods ended Sunday’s Masters on a better note, going off the course with a 16-over 304, the highest 72-hole score of his 30-year career.
Woods’ previous highest score was 302 points at the Memorial in 2015, when he scored a career-worst 85 points in the third round. The only time he failed to break 300 at the Masters was two years ago over the weekend when he finished with a 78-78 record at 301.
All that mattered little to the crowd.
Woods, 48, who is still dealing with the effects of numerous surgeries that have affected his body and limited his playing time on the PGA Tour, received a loud roar from the crowd when he pitched near the second hole. I made par with 18.
Woods, wearing traditional Sunday red, tipped his hat to the crowd.
At the end of the tournament, Woods was in last place out of 60 players who had qualified. The last time they finished in last place was at the 2020 Genesis Invitational at Riviera.
Even if he wasn’t the dominant player he once was at Augusta National, patrons flocked to see the man who took golf’s popularity to new heights.
Woods hasn’t been very competitive here since 2020, when he finished tied for 38th, a year after his incredible fifth win at age 43.
He finished 13th over two years ago but was forced to withdraw in the third round in 2023. The reason was that the cold and rainy weather took a toll on his body, but his injuries did not recover.
This week, Woods briefly showed glimpses of his past.
He played the first two rounds with one over and achieved his 24th appearance. But the final two rounds were tough for Woods, posting an 82 on Saturday, his worst round of his major career.
He played the final 36 holes in 15 over Sunday for a 77 in his 100th career round at the Masters.
Before his round, Woods appeared to receive swing advice from his 15-year-old son Charlie at the practice range.
Things started well enough, but it didn’t last long.
After playing the first two holes at 1 under, Woods made bogey on the third hole, but things started to fall apart when he took an unplayable lie on the par-4 fifth hole and had to be carted back to the tee box. I had to. Hit me again. I ended up with a triple bogey 7.
He also made bogey on No. 6.
He nearly chipped in from the sand on No. 16, giving fans a thrill and recalling the nostalgia of his iconic chip-in en route to winning his fourth of five championships at Augusta in 2005. It brought back memories.
The once-dominant Woods played with Neil Shipley, the only amateur to play in the Masters.
The age difference between the two was remarkable.
Woods’ streak of Masters cuts began in 1997, before the 23-year-old Shipley was born.
Even though Woods is no longer eligible to participate, fans are still gathering in droves to catch a glimpse of the player who has become the face of the sport. Fans continue to applaud and cheer for Woods every time he hits a shot, good or bad.
