Tiger Posts 2-Over 73 in Round 2

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Saving his best for last, Tiger Woods tallied his lone birdie of the round on the final hole Friday and will play the weekend at the Wells Fargo Championship. Woods had missed the cut the last two times he had competed in Charlotte.

Never comfortable on the greens at Quail Hollow Club, he finished with a 2-over 73 and has a 36-hole score of 144. An early starter, Woods was tied 48th place. Peter Malnati leads the tournament at 7-under-par. 135.

Starting on the back nine with Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed, Woods struggled with his putting Thursday, using 31. He had more trouble gaging speed on the slow but bouncy surfaces Friday, missing five putts inside 10 feet for the second day in a row and recorded 33 putts.

“It certainly was frustrating,” a composed Woods said afterward. “I missed so many putts. I have to put that behind me.”

Woods knows the greens aren’t as fast as they look.

“They’re just not quick,” he said. “They’re firm. I just need to make the adjustments.”

Woods finally rolled in a left-to-right 13-footer at the par-4 ninth – his last hole of the day – and raised his arms skyward.

“Whether it was for the cut for not, I trusted it, hit it and made it,” said Woods.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t make anything until the last hole.”

After an opening par, Woods hit a nice drive at the par-4 11th, but spun his second shot off the front of the green. He pitched to eight feet and missed the putt.

Woods followed with two pars, then three-putted the par-3 14th from 64 feet for his second bogey. He parred the last four holes, making a great up-and-down save from short-right of the green at the testy par-3 17th, and posted a 2-over 38.

Unable to generate positive momentum, Woods started the second nine with five consecutive pars, making several clutch saves. His par streak ended at nine following a three-putt bogey from 15 feet at the par-3 sixth hole.

Woods nearly broke through with his first birdie of the day at the par-5 seventh, but lipped out from six feet. He failed to capitalize on a nice drive at the par-4 eighth and settled for a par, then finished strong with the closing birdie.

“I can’t believe how long this golf course has become,” Woods said. “You can see why they hosted a PGA Championships (2017).”

Woods will play Saturday at 9:40 am for the third consecutive day with Koepka.