Tiger Woods wished his return to the PGA Tour had gone better, or at least lasted longer.
Woods was forced to withdraw midway through his round at the Genesis Invitational on Friday after battling an “illness.”
The 48-year-old admitted in a statement on Saturday that he had been suffering from the “flu” and was now feeling better.
“I would like to confirm that I had to decline participation. @thegenesisinv Due to my illness, I now have what I know to be the flu,” Woods wrote in X. “I’m resting and feeling better. I wish the players the best of luck this weekend. I’m disappointed that I can’t participate, but I want to thank them. @GenesisUSA And to all the fans who supported me. ”
Woods was playing in his first full-fledged PGA Tour event since last year’s Masters, which he was also forced to miss.
He then underwent surgery to fuse the bones in his right ankle and will miss the remainder of the 2023 major championships.
However, he made a comeback at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, competing in all four rounds and finishing 18th out of 20 competitors.
However, Woods returned to full capacity at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, where he shot a 1-over 72 in the first round.
He was 1 over again in the second round, winced as he hit his tee shot on the seventh hole, and was ultimately forced off the course by the rules officials, officially ending his participation in the tournament. Ta.
A Los Angeles Fire Department ambulance was waiting outside the clubhouse, but Woods did not come out, and in the end, an ambulance with an empty stretcher and two fire engines were used to help him win his 15th major championship. He walked away, leaving Woods behind.
Woods then left on his own and was ejected.
Rob McNamara, Woods’ business partner, said Friday that Woods’ decision to withdraw from the invitational was entirely due to the flu and had nothing to do with the pain.
“Physically, I have no problems whatsoever,” McNamara said. “His back is fine. It was all medical, dehydration, but now that he’s on an IV, his symptoms are improving.”
Since his car accident after the 2021 Genesis Invitational, Woods has played in six 72-hole events on the PGA Tour, but has only completed two of them.
