Masters 2026 Live: Tiger Woods Makes Historic Charge On Moving Day
Masters 2026 Live: Tiger Woods Makes Historic Charge On Moving Day...
Tiger Woods electrified Augusta National on Saturday, shooting a 6-under 66 to surge into contention at the 2026 Masters. The 50-year-old golf legend, playing on a special exemption, sits just three strokes behind leader Scottie Scheffler heading into Sunday's final round. ESPN's live coverage peaked at 12.3 million viewers during Woods' back-nine charge, the highest Saturday Masters rating since 2018.
The tournament is trending nationwide as Woods chases his record-tying sixth green jacket and first major victory since his 2019 Masters comeback. Social media erupted with #TigerWatch posts after his eagle on the 13th, while ticket resale prices for Sunday jumped 47% within two hours of his round ending. Augusta National officials confirmed they've expanded spectator areas in anticipation of record crowds.
Scheffler maintained his steady play with a 3-under 69, but all eyes are on the potential Sunday duel between golf's dominant current star and its most iconic figure. Weather forecasts call for sunny conditions with light winds, setting up ideal scoring conditions for the dramatic finale. CBS will begin live coverage at 2 PM ET Sunday with featured group streaming available on Masters.com and the ESPN+ app.
Woods' performance comes seven years after his emotional 2019 Masters win and three years after career-threatening injuries in his 2021 car accident. His surgically repaired right leg showed no signs of limitation Saturday as he attacked pins with vintage precision. "When Tiger's on the leaderboard, the whole tournament changes," said playing partner Max Homa after their round.
Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley confirmed the club will review its exemption policies this summer, with Woods' performance reigniting debate about special invitations for past champions. Meanwhile, merchandise sales at the tournament have doubled compared to 2025, with Woods-branded items accounting for 68% of Saturday's transactions according to on-site vendors.
The final pairing of Scheffler and Will Zalatoris will tee off at 2:40 PM ET Sunday, with Woods going off at 2:20 PM alongside rising star Ludvig Ã…berg. Betting markets saw dramatic swings after Woods' round, with his odds improving from 25-1 to 6-1 at most sportsbooks. A victory would make Woods the oldest Masters champion in history by nearly five years, surpassing Jack Nicklaus' 1986 win at age 46.
