Paramus, New Jersey …
Tiger Woods made it a lucky 13th halfway cuts from his 15 events in a remarkable return to golf and this despite the frustration of 35 putts on day two of the Northern Trust in New Jersey.
Woods struggled on the Ridgewood Country Club greens and managing just two birdies and an equal number of bogeys in a second straight score of 71 for an even par tally.
It left Woods right on the level par cut-off mark and trailing 10 shots behind the leading duo of the fellow Americans Jamie Lovemark (66) and last fortnight’s PGA Championship winner, Brooks Koepka (65) who head the now reduced 67-player field on 10-under par.
Tiger Woods looking to get off to a fast start on day three of the Northern Trust. (PGA Tour)
Woods had recorded 29 putts on day one of the $US 9m event and this after managing to hit just 11 of 18 greens in regulation while on day two he missed just two of 18 greens yet was let down by the shortest club in his bag.
“It’s just the nature of the game as you’ve got to make putts and you’ve got to roll it,” he said.
“No matter how good your drive is, you’ve still got to roll them and still got to make putts and I didn’t putt very well today. I had a hard time seeing my lines, and consequently, didn’t make anything.”
Woods first birdie of his round was at the par-4 seventh when he landed his second shot to 10-feet and holed the putt while his only other birdie came at the par-5 13th where he two-putted from 31-feet.
The current World No. 26 moved to two-under par for his round but then dropped shots at the par-3 15th in missing a five-footer for par while at the par-4 18th Woods was back right of the green with his second but three-putted from 24-feet.
“I wasn’t going to be near the lead but at least I could peck away at it a little bit,” added Woods. “I just never made any birdies. I’ve had five for two days, that’s not going to get it done out here.
“It’s just one day. Golf’s one of those things where you just have to make putts. I mean, no matter how good you hit your golf ball tee-to-green, still got to hole it.
“Today was one of those days when I didn’t make anything. Just got to do some work.”
However, with 10 shots now covering the entire field and 36 holes to play Woods clearly is not about to give-up on a hopeful first victory in over five-years.
“I wouldn’t say my iron-play was as sharp as it has been but it wasn’t that bad,” he said.
“I just didn’t roll the ball very good. I could never get anything kind of rolling. Make two-out-of-three, three out-of-four holes, get on any kind of run.
“Consequently, I’m ten back.”
Woods will commence his third round at 7.50am local time and in the company of England’s Ian Poulter.
