Noted golf enthusiast Tiger Woods seemed relaxed and confident heading into the 2012 Masters in Augusta. He was coming off a recent win, his first in years, and seemed poised to make a big statement to prove to the world that he was far from washed up.
Woods headed into Thursday's opening round knowing that he was chasing history. He was in pursuit of his fifth green jacket -- one short of the all-time mark in Masters wins -- and his 73rd PGA Tour win, which would place him in a tie with Jack Nicklaus for the second-most such victories of all time. Perhaps it was the knowledge of these records that weighed on his mind. At any rate, Woods followed up a shaky opening round with an even worse second round on Friday.
Woods headed into Friday having shot an even par in his opening round, thanks to back-to-back bogeys on his final two holes. His second round appeared to be starting much better, as he birdied on holes one and three. Then things began taking a turn for the worse as he began picking up bogeys. All told, Woods bogeyed on five holes to finish at 3-over.
Woods looked increasingly more frustrated through the back nine, as his shots kept refusing to land where he wanted them. He will have to put on a stellar performance through Saturday and Sunday if he wants to take his place in the record books this weekend. He has been known in the past for heating up in the final rounds, but as he has proved in recent years, this is anything but the Tiger Woods of the past.
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For more on the 2012 Masters, check out SB Nation's golf page and this StoryStream.