Tiger Woods celebrates a big putt and a chance to play

Tiger Woods punched the air with his fist when he rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt on his final hole, and then gave another punch when he snatched the ball from the cup. It’s been awhile since he made a putt that mattered. This was to make the cut. Woods didn’t have a great round Friday at The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The cause of celebration was that birdie allowed him to play two more. Woods had a 1-under 71, and while it left him eight shots behind the leaders, he made the weekend without a shot to spare. “I feel like I’m playing well enough to get myself up there,” Woods said. “I just need one good round and narrow up that gap between myself and the lead, and I feel like I can do that.” It was only the third time Woods has made the cut against a full field in the last year. – AP