AUGUSTA, Ga. — The club came out of Tiger Woods’ hands immediately after impact Saturday, his drive at the 13th hole so yanked and so ugly that he instinctively recoiled.
The CBS boom microphone was close enough to capture the disgust, one of many signs the old Tiger is making his presence felt at the Masters.
“Oh my (bleeping) God!” Woods grumbled as his tee shot veered left of the fairway, left of the adjacent creek and ultimately nestling into a patch of pine straw.
The reaction was understandable. Yet the sentiment was probably even more appropriate 10 minutes later when, somehow — with a recovery punch, then a blistered 7-iron from 173 yards away and finally a clutch 15-foot putt — Woods made birdie on the pivotal par 5, punctuating it with an overhand fist pump.
“Oh my (bleeping) God” indeed.
It was that kind of Saturday at Augusta National, the fireworks popping at all corners of the course, the theater as good as it ever is.
Woods’ front-nine 32 and a second consecutive round in the 60s created a familiar weekend buzz at the Masters, Tiger back in contention in fifth place. But the surplus of storylines and big moments left heads turning and galleries scattering all over the grounds.
Jordan Spieth remains the leader and clear-cut favorite after 54 holes, his steel-nerved 70 on Saturday putting him at 16 under and four shots clear of second place.
That’s an enviable position certainly, even if Spieth’s clumsy double bogey at No. 17 threatened at least some of his Saturday night sleep. Still, a clutch flop shot from right of the 18th green, aiding an impressive up-and-down par, provided Spieth’s lasting relief.
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“That just took some guts,” he said.
More will be needed.
Joining Spieth in Sunday’s final pairing will be Justin Rose, whose back-nine 31 took him to 12 under.
One group ahead of them will be Phil Mickelson, the owner of three green jackets and author of a third-round 67.
Oh, and Rory McIlroy launched himself into the top five as well with a 68 that left him in a five-player group at 6 under.
McIlroy will play Sunday with Woods, leaving Spieth in anticipation of the raucous noise they’ll create.
“You’re going to hear something there,” Spieth noted.
So add earplugs to the blinders already on Spieth’s accessory list.
The usually collected 21-year-old will face plenty of pressure Sunday, with Mickelson, Woods and McIlroy readying to charge on a softer, friendlier course that’s been handing out sub-70 scores to all comers.
After fighting back from his most recent back injury, Woods has proven plenty the last three days, returning with obvious competitive fire — not to mention a rebuilt swing.
“People have no idea how hard it was to do that,” Woods said. “And to come back here and play a major championship and to be in the mix (is encouraging).”
Mickelson, meanwhile, has an even better chance, just five strokes back. No moment was more vintage Mickelson than his twisting, 41-foot birdie putt at the par-3 16th.
Jarred.
Said Mickelson: “I remember in 1991 watching Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson both hit that putt. Both made it. And I remember being up in the clubhouse feeling the ground reverberate from the roar.”
On Saturday, similar reverberations were everywhere. And the Sunday forecast is calling for many more.
Twitter @danwiederer