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Tiger Woods was left hovering around the cut line at the Genesis Invitational on Friday after letting a second consecutive solid start fizzle at Riviera Country Club.

A 2-over-par 73 in the second round left him at even par at the midway point of the tournament, and seven shots off the lead as the afternoon wave was getting started.

Woods did appear likely to make the cut as he walked off the course, with the projected line moving to 1-over par.

“I’m going to have to make birdies,” Woods told the Golf Channel when asked if he will change his strategy while trying to make up ground Saturday. “If I’m going to win this event … I’m going to have to make some birdies this weekend.

“Hopefully I get off to a positive start tomorrow.”

From the crowd. 👏@TigerWoods saves birdie in style. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/V1FyjNSPAi

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 14, 2020

Woods said after Thursday’s round that he was looking forward to playing on fresh greens with an early tee time, and rolled in a birdie on the 10th hole Friday – his first of the day. He doubled-bogeyed the 15th hole before getting one of the shots back with a birdie on No. 17 to make his turn at even par for the day.

After a birdie on No. 1, the wheels came off for Woods on his closing nine for the second consecutive day. He missed a trio of makeable par putts in dropping shots on Nos. 3, 4 and 6. He parred out from there.

After reaching 4 under through his first eight holes on Thursday, Woods went 4 over during a 22-hole stretch that spanned his 12th hole of his first round to his 15th hole Friday.

“I made some bad mistakes out there. I had a wedge in my hand on 15, made double there. And had a sand wedge on three and made bogey there. Three thrown-away shots with wedges is something that I rarely ever do.

“And because of that, I shot over par.”

Woods is making his 14th career start at Riviera. It’s the only event he has entered at least 10 times without winning. His best finish was runner-up in 1998.

He is also attempting to break his tie with Sam Snead by winning an 83rd career PGA Tour event.

Woods has also acknowledged that it is a very busy week for him off the course due to his responsibilities as the tournament host.

“I’ve done it a long time. I’ve been involved in running events and hosting events since ’99 and 2000. I’ve done it a bunch of times, and this is no different. I just wish I would not have played the back nine as bad as I did yesterday, and that I did not throw away three shots with a wedge in my hand.

“Those things change, I’m near the top of the board. That’s the way it is when you play tournament golf against the best field there is.”

Seeing Tiger up close … 😵#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/qazzoCOcvV

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 14, 2020

Playing partner Justin Thomas, the runner-up in 2019, will miss the cut after posting an even-par 71 on Friday that left him at 3 over for the tournament.

Steve Stricker, the third member of the group, was sitting on the mid-day cut line at 1 over.

–Derek Harper (@DerekAHarper), Field Level Media