- Woods appeared to be visibly struggling and was carted off on hole No. 7
- He had teed off on the seventh before leaving the course and withdrawing
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Tiger Woods’ week at Riviera Country Club has come to a sudden end as he withdrew from the second round of the Genesis Invitational due to an illness.
Woods entered the day hovering around the cut line after shooting a one-over-par 72 round yesterday – punctuated by a hard shank on the 18th hole at Riviera Country Club, which the 48-year-old attributed to a back spasm.
But after playing through six holes and teeing off on the seventh, Woods was seen driving away from the hole in a golf cart.
It was later confirmed by the PGA Tour that the 15-time major champion was suffering from an illness and was withdrawing. Sky Sports also reported that Jordan Spieth was feeling unwell.
At first, it was believed that Woods would leave Riviera in an ambulance, though a paramedic later reportedly denied that that was the case.
He was seen with his head in his hands in one clip as he was carted off.
Woods was sitting just above the cut line at two-over par and had more than enough time to try and play his way into the field for Saturday and Sunday.
It’s an unfortunate end for Tiger Woods at the Genesis as he withdraws due to an illness
Woods teed off and began the day with the hopes of making the cut at the event he organizes
Woods was seen with his head in his hands as he was carted away on Friday afternoon
It was set to be a special day for Woods as he looked to make his first cut since The Masters last April. He ended up leaving that event midway through the third round when he developed back issues.
Woods decided to pay homage to his attire that he wore to his first ever PGA event that he played at this same course back in 1992.
After agreeing to a deal with TaylorMade and launching his own brand – Sun Day Red – Woods showed up to the course wearing a polo with the same pattern and colors from when he was 16-years-old and playing on a sponsors exemption.
He started off strong on Friday, birdieing the par-5 first hole and followed that up with back-to-back pars on holes two and three.
It was a better start than yesterday, when he birdied the first but bogeyed holes two and three.
Woods began to struggle with what were initially believed to be back issues as he bogeyed on the fourth and fifth holes to fall above the cut line. He looked to be visibly in pain of some kind throughout both those holes.
He carded a par on the sixth hole and cameras did not show him hitting his next tee shot.
Woods was wearing a polo in a similar pattern and color to his first PGA Tour event in 1992
It follows on from a first round that ended with four bogeys on the back-nine to sit at one-over
Woods looked to be in visible discomfort on holes four and five on Friday afternoon
After playing partners Gary Woodland and Justin Thomas teed off on the seventh hole, Woods jumped in the cart and drove away. Shortly after, he officially withdrew.
It’s a disappointing end to a tournament that was Tiger’s first PGA Tour event since the aforementioned 2023 Masters.
He had spent a long time conditioning and preparing for a return at Riviera – only for it to come to a sudden conclusion.
Woods has not been confirmed to play in any other events up until The Masters this April.
However, considering the quick end to his weekend at Riviera, he could try to play at a tournament like The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in four weeks’ time.
Since the 2021 car crash that left him with a broken leg, Woods has played in six events and only played 72 holes twice. That’s includes three withdrawals and one missed cut.