It was the image golf fans didn’t want to see this week: Tiger Woods, for his return to competition in 2024, sitting on the service cart, heading toward the clubhouse to retire. In the middle of the second day of the Genesis Invitational tournament that he organizes on behalf of his foundation, Tiger Woods retired at the start of the 7th hole.
The image may have been worrying for the return to the North American Tour (PGA) of the 48-year-old American, in an uncertain general physical condition after several significant injuries in recent years. Good news all the same, Woods, who launched his new clothing brand this week in his name, withdrew showing “flu-like symptoms”, announced his business partner Rob McNamara.
“Waking up this morning (Friday) it was worse than the day before. He had a bit of a fever, it was fine during the warm-up, but during his game, from walking and playing so much, he started to feel unwell,” he continued.
“Placed on a drip”
The arrival of an ambulance at the clubhouse suggested a deteriorating condition, but McNamara assures that Woods was treated on site after suffering from dehydration. “The doctors said he had some type of flu and was dehydrated,” McNamara added. “He was put on a drip and is doing much better. »
The golf superstar with 15 major titles was playing his first PGA Tour tournament in Los Angeles since April 2023 and the Masters, which he had also abandoned. He had surgery on an ankle two weeks later, after-effects of a car accident in 2021. He then returned to competition in December during two lesser tournaments, without completely removing doubts about his ability to regain the very high level.
Thursday, after an irregular first day (49th, +1), he was rather satisfied with his physical form, even if a back spasm caused him to completely miss a shot at the end of the day. “It’s not a physical problem at all, his back is fine,” assured McNamara.
The fact remains that Woods was unable to finish the tournament, having announced that he wanted to play one competition per month in 2024, focusing on the major tournaments. “I hope I can play as much. Physical ups and downs are part of me, that’s how it is. I accept the challenge,” he said on Thursday.
Far from his past glory, Tiger Woods was struggling in West Los Angeles to make the cut. After two days of competition, the American Patrick Cantlay is a solid leader with two cards of 64 then 65, finding himself 13 shots under par. He has a five-shot lead over a trio of runners-up, American Luke List, Australian Jason Day and Canadian Hughes Mackenzie.
