Tiger Woods battles the elements to tee off for third round at The Masters after making the cut

Tiger Woods braced for the cold as he headed for his Masters third round on Saturday afternoon, having narrowly made the cut just hours before.

The five-time winner had struggled through the torrential rain and high winds to just get through the weekend in the morning – with a helping hand from friend Justin Thomas – but had another long afternoon to grind it out.

Woods was forced to an early start on Saturday morning after his second round was cut short Friday after blaring and started his third round from the 10th tee at 1:06pm ET / 6:06pm BST after Augusta National officials passed a two-tee start in a effort to complete the game.

Wrapped up on the gloomy Georgia day, Woods’ third lap start was as cold as the weather.

The 15-time grand winner hit a bogey five off Camellia and fell 17 shots behind leader Brooks Koepka.

The five-time winner had just made the cut a few hours before he left again

Wrapped up on the gloomy Georgia day, Woods teed off the back nine at 1:06 p.m. ET

Woods had slipped inside the cut mark on Saturday morning on his second round with a neat little birdie on 15, draining into a putt from center.

However, a bogey on the 17th left him needing a par on 18, but the golf great was wayward off the tee and double-crossed his drive into the trees.

He couldn’t get himself out of trouble by dropping another shot and endangering him.

Woods had to play the painful waiting game in the clubhouse with Thomas and Sung-jae Im still on the job, both with the ability to influence the cutting line.

If either gave up and dropped a shot to match three-over, the cut line would go in Woods’ favor, extending his possibly final Masters appearance.

But the 15-time big winner was saved by friend Thomas after his fellow American also dropped shots on 17 and 18 to drop back to four-over and take the projected cut line to three-over, ironically missing it yourself.

His miraculous cut made him tie Fred Couples and Gary Player for the record for most consecutive cuts made at The Masters at 23.

However, it’s unclear if he’ll get the chance to expand that number and take the lead solo after admitting during his pre-tournament press conference that he’s not sure how many Masters he has left in him.

He made a remarkable return to Augusta last year, just 14 months after nearly losing his right leg in a horrific car accident in February 2021.

Despite the undulations of the prestigious Georgia golf course, Woods battled through the pain and stiffness of his leg to remarkably make the cut.

But he has continued to battle the pain caused by the injuries to the surgically repaired leg for the past 12 months.

Woods, who has previously confessed that his game will be limited to the four majors and possibly a few other tournaments, hinted that this year could be his last walk down Magnolia Lane.

“I don’t know how many I have left in me,” the five-time Masters winner said during his pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday. “Just to appreciate the time and cherish the memories.

“I’m very lucky to have the leg. Mobility and endurance – it will never be the same in the future. I can’t prepare and play as many tournaments as I would like, but that’s okay and I’m okay with it.’

The 47-year-old tied the record for most consecutive cuts at The Masters with 23

Despite his sensational return, Woods’ competitive appearances were limited until 2022.

Woods completed just nine rounds in 2022 due to complications surrounding the limb-threatening injuries he suffered in his car accident last year.

Woods last competed on the PGA Tour in February at the Genesis Invitational at the Riviera Country Club, where he carded a four under 67 in the final round, his lowest score in the league since his return.

Before the Genesis Invitational, Woods had not won a tournament by a cut since The Open last July.