Tiger Woods made his long-awaited return to the PGA Tour after a 10-month absence following his withdrawal from The Masters in April 2023. The golf fans had been eagerly anticipating his comeback, but unfortunately, he had to cut his participation short due to illness. Woods expressed his disappointment about this turn of events.
As the host of the Genesis Invitational, all eyes were on Woods and his performance. During the first round, the 48-year-old caught everyone’s attention by eating In-N-Out burgers on the course. However, on Friday, he fell ill and had to withdraw from the event.
According to a statement from TGR Ventures Vice President, Woods was diagnosed with the flu. He later shared an update about his health with his fans on social media.
“I had to withdraw from @thegenesisinv due to illness, which we now know is influenza. I am resting and feeling better. Good luck to the players this weekend. I’m disappointed to not be there and want to thank @GenesisUSA and all the fans for their support.”
Woods’ health concerns were evident during the first round when he complained of back pain. He finished the day with a score of 1-over 72, but it was his shank on the final hole that drew attention. After the event, Woods revealed that his back was spasming during the last few holes, raising questions about his fitness.
Since his serious accident in 2021, Woods has faced numerous physical health challenges. As a result, he has limited his time on the golf course. This withdrawal from the 2024 Genesis Invitational marks the second consecutive official PGA Tour event that he has had to leave prematurely. Many are now wondering when was the last time Woods completed a full PGA Tour event.
The last time Woods played all 72 holes on the PGA Tour was exactly a year ago at the 2023 Genesis Invitational. He finished tied for 45th place with a score of 2-over par while being paired with other golfers. It is worth noting that Woods has previously prioritized certain tournaments over others, such as the Players Championship. With this event coming up next month, he will likely focus on regaining full fitness before competing in that prestigious tournament at TPC Sawgrass, followed by preparations for The Masters in April.
According to the Source firstsportz.com