The 15-times major winner dragged his battered 48-year-old body around Augusta National for 23 holes on Friday in a mighty display of mental and physical resolve to earn another weekend tee time.
Still the Augusta patrons' darling, Woods will again be the centre of attention over the weekend. (AP PHOTO)
After starting the day at one under through 13 holes of his opening round, Woods dropped two shots to post a one-over 73.
With the eye of a tiger, he then carved out an even-par second-round 72 in howling winds as the crowd rode his every shot.
On a day when pars were like gold, a thunderous "Tiger roar" reverberated around the course when he chipped in for birdie from the collar of a bunker on the par-3 sixth.
Being not on the leaderboard won't stop Woods believing he can win green jacket No.6 on Sunday. (AP PHOTO)
Further birdies on the third, eighth and 15th holes offset bogeys on four, five and No.14 as Woods eclipsed the cut record he previously shared with Fred Couples and Gary Player.
The former world No.1 - who had only two competitive rounds since last year's Masters - has now made the cut at Augusta every time he's entered since first winning, by a record 12 shots, in 1997.
At one over for the tournament, and eight strokes behind mid-round on-course pacesetter Bryson DeChambeau, Woods will still believe he can land a record-equalling sixth green jacket on Sunday.
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