(CNN) Whether Tiger Woods would make it to The Masters hung in the balance for most of the morning, but after a nervous wait, the five-time champion made it through to the third and fourth rounds at Augusta.
In his 25th appearance at the prestigious major, Woods equaled Gary Player and Fred Cupples’ record of 23 consecutive shutouts at The Masters.
The 47-year-old, who earlier in the week suggested this could be his last appearance at the tournament, finished his late second round with a one-over 73.
As the rain poured down at Augusta National, Woods bogeyed the 17th and 18th holes to go three over for the tournament, meaning he had to have others give him strokes to make the break.
Greenskeepers remove standing water on the 18th green during the delayed second round.
The weather made it difficult for players to be consistent on the course, which worked in Woods’ favor to some extent, as Justin Thomas bogeyed the 17th to move the projected reduction to three.
Thomas endured a terrible back nine, missing six shots, in a round that consisted of six bogeys, a double bogey and a birdie, which meant the PGA champion missed the corner.
Woods had completed 11 holes of his second round on Friday and was two over par, the then-predicted cut, when play was suspended for the day due to inclement weather.
He stayed within two points until the final hole of the round, hitting two birdies and three bogeys in an improved performance in his first-round 74.
Masters 2023: Best photos from Augusta
A security guard moves people away from trees that fell on the 17th hole of the Augusta National Golf Club on Friday. No injuries were reported.
Brooks Koepka starts on the 10th hole on Friday. He is 12 under par entering the weekend.
Jason Day and William Kane, Gordon Sargent’s caddies, read the first green on Friday.
Tiger Woods starts on the eighth hole on Friday.
Amateur Sam Bennett plays a putt on the second hole on Friday. He shot 68 on both Thursday and Friday.
Jon Rahm plays from the bunker on the second hole on Friday.
Billy Horschel reacts to a putt on the second hole on Friday.
Victor Hovland chips for the 10th green Thursday. The Norwegian shot a 7-under 65 and shared the first-round lead with Koepka and Rahm.
Patrick Reed’s caddy, Kessler Karain, helps Reed line up a shot on the 13th hole Thursday.
Woods grimaces at the fourth tee on Thursday. The five-time Masters champion said his surgically repaired right leg felt sore Thursday and that the pain was “constant.”
Phil Mickelson makes a putt on the second hole Thursday.
Adam Scott plays a bunker shot on the second hole on Thursday.
Pins decorate a spectator’s hat on Thursday.
Defending Masters champion Scotty Scheffler hits his tee shot on the seventh hole Thursday.
Sergio Garcia catches his ball from the fairway on number 13.
A worker updates one of the leaderboards Thursday at Augusta National.
Koepka hits his tee shot on the 14th hole on Thursday.
Hideki Matsuyama, who won the tournament two years ago, looks over the putt on the second hole.
Ram and his caddy Adam Hayes are seen on the third green Thursday.
Golf legend Jack Nicklaus hits a ceremonial tee shot before the start of the first round. He was joined by Gary Player and Tom Watson.
Rory McIlroy signs autographs after competing in the traditional par 3 competition, which takes place the day before the tournament begins.
Min Woo Lee goes to the 15th green during a practice round on Wednesday.
Koepka’s lead cut
Brooks Koepka, who completed his second round before bad weather ended play early Friday, remained 12 under at the end of the second round, even as world No. 3 Jon Rahm cut his lead to two strokes.
Resuming nine under on the 10th hole, Ram carded a three-under 69, hitting five birdies and two bogeys in dreary conditions.
As expected after a terrible two days, world No. 2 Rory McIlroy missed the cut, finishing five over for the tournament.
Woods hit a bogey on the 18th.
The third round has already started. Woods is scheduled to tee off at 1:06 p.m. ET, and playing that many holes in the same day — weather permitting — will be a real test for the 15-time major champion.
His competitive appearances have been sporadic since he suffered severe leg injuries in a serious car crash in 2021 and after his first round on Thursday he said he was in “constant” pain on the hilly Augusta course.