Q. I know it's tough to reflect right after your round, but 24 straight made cuts here at Augusta. What does that mean to you, especially after the quick turnaround between rounds?
TIGER WOODS: It means I have a chance going into the weekend. I'm here. I have a chance to win the golf tournament. I don't know if they're all going to finish today, but I'm done. I got my two rounds in. Just need some food and some caffeine, and I'll be good to go.
Q. How do you assess your position going into the weekend?
TIGER WOODS: I'm right there. I'm only eight back as of right now. I don't think anyone is going to run off and hide right now, but it's really bunched. The way the ball is moving on the greens, chip shots are being blown, it's all you want in a golf course today.
Q. What about the physical challenge today? How tough was it?
TIGER WOODS: Yeah, I'm tired. I've been out for a while, competing, grinding. It's been a long 23 holes, a long day.
But Lance and I really did some good fighting today, and we've got a chance.
Q. Despite the physical challenges and the conditions and whatnot, it seemed like especially yesterday there was a little bit of joy about you. Can you describe being back here, the conditions being certainly better than they were last year?
TIGER WOODS: Well, I've always loved playing here. I've been able to play here since I was 19 years old. It's one of the honors I don't take lightly, being able to compete. The years I have missed, I wish I was able to play because there's such an aura and mystique about playing this golf course that I don't think that -- unless you have played and competed here, you probably don't really appreciate.
Q. Even though you don't play for cuts, never have, is there some appreciation for having that record, particularly with the stuff you've been dealing with?
TIGER WOODS: Yeah. I think I will be able to as soon as I'm done with you guys text Freddy and give him a little needle.
Q. Max's road to contending in a major hasn't been a straight line. Can you assess him as a player and how he's played the last couple days?
TIGER WOODS: Well, he's got all the talent in the world. I got a chance to play with him at the Open Championship at St Andrews, and his ball flight, as solid as he hits it, it's just a matter of time before he starts winning in bunches.
I saw it up front; he doesn't really mis-hit shots. That's something you just have to do around this golf course.
Q. Can you talk about how you played today, especially your short game?
TIGER WOODS: Yeah. I was forced to get up-and-down a few times today, and I was able to do that. A lot of those chip shots I was able to get up-and-down because I left it in the perfect spot, and that's understanding how to play this golf course. Probably the only exception was the spot I put myself in on 14. Most of the up-and-downs I was in a perfect spot.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports