Tiger Woods begins the weekend at the Masters still in contention for another green jacket

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Tiger Woods is back at Augusta National on Saturday, playing another picturesque weekend at the Masters, just as the five-time champion always has when he's been healthy enough to do it as a professional.

After making the cut for a record 24th consecutive time, Woods began the third round 1-over par and still in the hunt for a record-tying sixth green jacket. He had plenty of ground to make up, seven shots adrift of overnight leaders Max Homa, Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau, and with 21 players separating him from the top of the leaderboard.

Yet provided his balky back and fused ankle hold up, there is reason to believe the 48-year-old Woods can, too.

He had to play 23 holes on Friday after darkness brought an early end to his opening round. Yet he not only persevered through a marathon day, Woods shot a second-round 72 amid such blustery conditions that the average score was 75.09, the highest for the second round of the Masters since 2007, when it was not only windy but also cold.