Tiger Woods has made a 24th straight cut at the Masters(Image: Getty Images)

Masters rivals make feelings clear on 'alien' Tiger Woods after incredible comeback

Tiger Woods made a record-breaking 24th consecutive cut at the Masters following the end of round two on Friday, and unsurprisingly earned the plaudits of his fellow players

13 Apr 2024, 17:11 by Joshua Lees · The Mirror

Tiger Woods has been labelled an 'alien' by one of his fellow players, after the 15-time major champion made a record-breaking 24th cut on the bounce at the Masters on Friday.

Woods is making just his second competitive start of the season this week, as he continues to nurse a number of fitness issues. Battling through the elements and playing 25 holes on Friday though, the American carded a hard-fought level-par 72 in the second round to book his place for the weekend.

In the aftermath of his history-making afternoon at Augusta, Woods received the plaudits of his fellow players, with amateur star Stewart Hagestad in awe at the 82-time PGA Tour winner's effort to make the cut by five shots.

Hagstead, who missed the cut by two at the opening major of the year, said: "These are the best players in the world. Just look at what Tiger is doing right now. The guy has barely played at all in the last calendar year, and he's 1-over. That's alien stuff. That's unbelievable."

Making the weekend is a commendable effort by Woods, who has played all 72 holes of a tournament on just three occasions over the past two years amid his issues with injury. Whilst he made his own piece of history by booking his place over the weekend, the five-time major winner has set his sights on winning green jacket No. 6.

The 48-year-old is currently seven shots behind leaders Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Max Homa with 36 holes to play, but in typical Tiger fashion he still believes he can chase down the leading pack. "It means I have a chance going into the weekend," he said on Friday.

For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US.

Tiger Woods was coined an 'alien'( Image: Getty Images)

"I'm here. I have a chance to win the golf tournament. I don't know if they're all going to finish today, but I'm done. I got my two rounds in. Just need some food and some caffeine, and I'll be good to go... I'm right there. I'm only eight back as of right now.

"I don't think anyone is going to run off and hide right now, but it's really bunched. The way the ball is moving on the greens, chip shots are being blown, it's all you want in a golf course today." Having struggled for fitness since suffering career-threatening injuries in a car crash three years ago, Woods has looked visibly in pain on the occasions he has opted to take to the course.

This week however appears to be a little different, with the limp that has plagued his return in recent seasons appearing to have disappeared across Thursday and Friday's opening two rounds. At last year's Masters, Woods was forced to withdraw ahead of round three due to an ankle issue, and whilst that has since been treated, he remains in pain elsewhere.

The ankle doesn't hurt anymore," he said pre-tournament. "It's fused. It's not going anywhere. So that's fine. It's other parts of my body that now have to take the brunt of it. So, yeah, once he put the rods in there, it's good to go. But, the back, the knee, other parts of the body have to take the load of it. And just the endurance capability of walking a long time and being on my feet for a long time."

Bet £10 on the 2024 US Masters and get £30 in Free Bets* – T&Cs Apply