The 2024 Masters was set to begin at about 8 a.m. ET on Thursday, but rainy weather at Augusta pushed the tee time back to 10:30 a.m. ET.
Golf fans were certainly disappointed about the delayed start. Many were eager to see 2024’s first major get underway, so waiting an extra two-and-a-half hours for the tournament to tee off will feel like an eternity.
More importantly, the shift could greatly impact the golfers preparing to compete at the Masters. Among them will be Tiger Woods, who is looking to make a record 24th consecutive cut at the Masters.
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Here’s a look at how Woods’ new tee time could impact him at the Masters and what it means for his chances of contending at Augusta.
How weather delay, late tee time impact Tiger Woods at the Masters
Woods’ original tee time was scheduled for 1:24 p.m. ET but was pushed back to 3:54 p.m. ET because of the rain. That will make it hard for him to finish his round before it gets dark Thursday.
What does that mean? Woods may have to get up bright and early to finish the remainder of his opening round Friday morning. That may not be a big deal for most golfers, but it is for Woods.
Woods has dealt with complications from a plethora of serious injuries he suffered during a car accident in February 2021. He nearly had to have one of his legs amputated because of the injury and is said to have “zero mobility” in his left ankle even three years after the crash.
Those injuries already made it hard for Woods to walk the golf course and play 18 holes in a day. And if he can’t finish his first round Thursday, he will have to play even more holes Friday. The Masters will make up any weather- and darkness-impacted rounds in the morning before playing as much of its second round as possible before the darkness comes again.
That means Woods could be forced to play a lot Friday, and there’s no telling exactly how his legs, ankle and back will respond to playing more than a full round of golf.
Woods also won’t have as much time or ability to recover between rounds, something his former Stanford teammate turned NBC golf analyst Notah Begay III said was Woods’ main focus as he looks to stay in contention at Augusta.
“For the past couple months, he’s been trying to find a way to recover,” Begay explained of Woods in a conference call. “He can play the golf. We always knew the question was going to be ‘Can he walk the 72 [holes]?’ That’s still up in the air. But can he recover from one round to the next? That’s the biggest question that I really don’t know, and he’s not going to know either until he gets out there and figures out whether the way he’s prepared for this year’s Masters is going to work for him.”
Perhaps Woods has found that type of recovery plan, and will look spryer and healthier this year. Or maybe he will get in more of his first round than expected and will merely have to add a couple holes to his workload Friday.
But if Woods is as hobbled as he has been in the years since his car accident, his tee time might be too difficult an obstacle for him to overcome.
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Tiger Woods injury update
Woods was candid about his health in a news conference ahead of the 2024 Masters. He admitted that he plays through a lot of pain because of the injuries he has racked up during his life.
“I hurt every day,” Wood told reporters. “I ache every day. I prefer warm, humid and hot.”
The good news for Woods? His ankle doesn’t hurt because of the fusion surgery he had to repair it. But because his ankle lacks mobility, Woods has to compensate for it, which creates other aches and pains.
“It’s other parts of my body that now have to take the brunt of it,” he explained. “The back, the knee, other parts of the body.”
Woods also admitted that his body “wasn’t ready” to play a full four rounds at the Genesis Invitational, his first event of the PGA Tour season. He withdrew from that tournament because of an illness.
Still, the 48-year-old golfer is remaining optimistic that he can contend at Augusta and tie Jack Nicklaus for the Masters wins record.
“If everything comes together, I think I can get one more [green jacket],” the former World No. 1 said.
MORE: Everything to know about Tiger Woods’ pre-Masters press conference
How many consecutive cuts has Tiger Woods made at the Masters?
Woods winning another green jacket may be wishful thinking, but he should have a chance to battle for the cut line at Augusta — if he can stay on the course.
The top 50 golfers and ties at the Masters advance to the weekend. Woods has been in that group 23 consecutive times, which is tied for the most in Masters history with Gary Player and Fred Couples. Woods can take sole possession of first place in that category with a strong showing at Augusta in 2024.
Thus, Woods’ first goal in his quest for green jacket No. 6 will be to make the cut. And even if he eventually has to withdraw, he can take some solace if he can make it to the weekend before doing so.
Still, the delay at the 2024 Masters could make this Woods’ toughest quest to the weekend in quite a while. His chances of making history will all depend on how much is asked of him Friday if he is unable to play a full round Thursday.
