Tiger Woods tracker at 2022 PGA Championship: Soreness from injured leg leads to first major withdrawal

Tiger makes cut, finishes strong in Round 2

Tiger Woods followed up his opening-round 74 on Thursday at the 2022 PGA Championship with a 1-under 69 in Round 2 on Friday, narrowly making it inside the 4-over cut line but keeping his chances to win at Southern Hills like he did in 2007 — however unlikely — still alive headed into the weekend. His 69 was tied for the 11th best round of the day.

Woods (+3 through 36 holes) seesawed his way through a muggy second round of play with another strong start much like the one he had Thursday. He birdied the fifth after throwing a dart to within feet on his approach, part of a 1-under start through seven. But he gave one back at eight before going out in even par.

The rollercoaster continued on the back with a birdie at 10 followed by a double at 11. But as he is won’t to do, Tiger held tight, making birdie at the par-5 13th and sticking his approach within a few feet at 16 for another. An impressive up and down at 17 from just off the green all but officially punched his weekend ticket. He played the final seven holes at 2 under, and with the pressure of the cut looming, he was just good enough (by two strokes) to make the cut.

“I knew what the number was,” said Woods on ESPN post-round. “Had to grind and go to work, I did, made it. Hopefully this weekend I can get a hot weekend with some tough conditions, and you never know.”

A fast start and a slump to the finish was the theme of Woods’ appearance at the Masters last month and again it was Thursday in Round 1. But despite a pronounced limp at the end of Thursday (and despite using a club as a cane throughout both days), Woods was not only good enough to withstand the tough conditions but appeared to improve as the round went on. Physically, though, that’s clearly not the case.

“There’s a lot of things [I can’t do],” Tiger said laughing after being asked about his leg and physical limitations. “It’s just the way it is. Luckily, over the course of my career I’ve used my hands quite well. I’ve relied on feel to hit shots. … I know it wasn’t exactly the way I wanted it to be, it wasn’t pretty … but I hope I can [play prettier] this weekend.”

Of the 10 major championships held at Southern Hills, all 10 eventual champions have held the lead at the 36-hole mark — including Woods in 2007 — so his chances 12 strokes off the pace of the lead entering the weekend are admittedly slim. Nonetheless, making another major championship cut and getting a chance to compete at the top of the sport is itself a huge accomplishment regardless of how the next few days play out.