Tiger Woods had pledged to compete in one PGA Tour event a month starting with last week’s Genesis Invitational, but his plans may well have been scuppered after withdrawing in Los Angeles
Tiger Woods’ return to the PGA Tour was a short-lived one last week, after the 15-time major champion was forced to withdraw after 24 holes due to illness at the Genesis Invitational.
As the tournament host, Woods made his first start of the 2024 season at Riviera, but things did not go as expected. The 48-year-old opened his week with a one-over-par 72, but he had influenza and lost the tournament after just six holes in the second round, six hours later.
The sickness is the most recent blow in Woods’ fight to return to full health. In the past few years, he had to play on the PGA Tour on a part-time basis due to injuries he sustained in a car accident in February 2021 that could have ended his career.
The 15-time major winner has only made seven appearances on the PGA Tour since then, and on three of those events, he has withdrawn. Despite disclosing his 2024 strategy at the Hero World Challenge last year, Woods’ most recent withdrawal has raised more questions about his future plans.
In a speech from November of last year, Woods stated that he planned to play in one tournament per month, beginning with the Genesis this past week. This implies that, going forward, the 48-year-old will probably play again in the Players Championship in March at TPC Sawgrass, which takes place in a little over three weeks.
“Maybe a monthly tournament would be the ideal situation, in my opinion. Speaking three months ago at the Hero World Challenge, Woods said, “I think that’s realistic.” “Maybe at Genesis to start, and then something in March close to the Players.
“Once more, this is how we currently have it set up: there is one major event per month. It positions itself to do so. I have to prepare myself for all of that now. This week, in my opinion, is a significant step in that way. Although he honored his commitment by competing in Los Angeles, it is unclear if his recent illness will interfere with his plans to play in the Players next month.
Known as “golf’s fifth major,” Woods has triumphed at Sawgrass twice in his career. The first time was in 2001. After winning the 2019 Masters, the former world No. 1 would be granted exemption status as a major champion for the previous five years, making him eligible to participate in the event.
Woods’ next objective will be the first major of the year, since the Masters will be held at Augusta National in April, bringing the golf world back to the course. The two most recent tournaments that the five-time green jacket winner participated in saw him withdraw due to an ankle injury, similar to what happened to him last week.
Leave a Reply