Tiger Woods refuses to leave Augusta

Times are changing at Augusta and even the television cameras and microphones are now connecting with players. There was a mic'd up Rory McIlroy, who missed the cut on Thursday and Justin Thomas, who says he gets up at 4:45, has breakfast and goes to the physio, to give the viewer a new and interesting angle. But there are some things that don't change.

Despite the coldness, the rain and the unpleasant conditions which affect all the scars on his bruised body, a cold that with 95 percent humidity is unbearable for everyone, Tiger Woods put in another exercise in endurance at the Masters that allows him to equal the record for the most consecutive cuts in a row (23).

With his apparent limp, Tiger Woods was saving pars with merit. He is no longer the elastic player who spun on his body at a formidable speed in each swing. His vertebrae are fused. Now he has to play with strategy.

His first shot on Saturday was to the par 3 Amen Corner. A demanding shot, with no room for error. And he nailed it to 132 metres. "My caddie and I knew the number," he said afterwards, even though the putt was a birdie.

He made par, but psychologically it took a good start for a guy who has to extend his warm-ups longer than anyone else because of his bruises. Then he holed a great five-metre putt on the 15th (par 5) and made birdie and although he finished with two bogeys, it was enough income to enjoy another weekend where he has always been happy.

"I've always loved playing here and I'd love to do it this weekend," he said before he knew it was going to happen.