/ 12 May 2012

Tiger makes the cut at PGA championship

Tiger Woods waits to play on the ninth green during the second round of the Players Championship golf tournament in Ponte Vedra Beach
Tiger Woods waits to play on the ninth green during the second round of the Players Championship golf tournament in Ponte Vedra Beach

Tiger Woods birdied four holes in a row on his way to firing a four-under par 68 on Friday to make the cut at the $9.5 million US PGA Players Championship.

Woods would have missed the cut in back-to-back events for the first time in his professional career if he had failed to reach the weekend at the TPC at Sawgrass.

The 14-time major champion, chasing the all-time record of 18 major titles won by Jack Nicklaus, avoided the unwelcome feat by stringing together four birdies in a row for the first time since his March victory at Bay Hill.

Off the cutline
Woods birdied the par-4 fourth hole but followed with a bogey to leave himself still well off the cutline until his crucial birdie binge.

Woods birdied the par-3 eighth, par-5 ninth, par-4 10th and par-5 11th to stand two-under par for the tournament and two strokes beyond the cut line.

A bogey at the par-4 14th was answered by a birdie at the par-5 16th and Woods parred the 17th and 18th to reach the clubhouse secure for the weekend.

Woods failed to make the cut last week at Quail Hollow and opened with a 74 at the Players, jeopardizing his chances of finishing in the top 70 and ties to reach the final two rounds.