Tiger Woods had to end his participation in the 2024 Genesis Invitational due to an illness. He withdrew during the second round of the tournament while playing on the seventh hole at Riviera Country Club on Friday.
The reason for his early exit was not related to his physical condition but due to an illness. Woods, who is 48 years old, had been experiencing back spasms during the first round on Thursday. He was seen limping as he walked into the clubhouse and continued to struggle during his second round on Friday.
According to Rob McNamara, Tiger’s longtime business partner, Woods started feeling flu-like symptoms the previous night. His condition worsened in the morning, with a fever and dizziness during the game. Doctors suspect he has the flu and was dehydrated. He received treatment with an IV bag and was expected to recover soon.
Woods later confirmed that he was diagnosed with influenza. He was having a tough time trying to make the cut after scoring 1-over 72 in the opening round of the Genesis Invitational. Despite starting with a birdie, he dropped shots on the fourth and fifth holes, falling to 2 over for the tournament. This put him at risk of not qualifying for the weekend rounds.
The Genesis Invitational marked Woods’ return to the PGA Tour since the 2023 Masters, where he had to withdraw due to an ankle injury. However, Woods has withdrawn from three of his last six tournaments since the 2022 Masters and has completed all 72 holes on the PGA Tour only twice during that time.
It remains uncertain what Woods’ next steps will be. He might choose to return to competition at either the Arnold Palmer Invitational or The Players Championship, both scheduled for March, as he prepares for the Masters.
It’s evident that Woods needs more time to regain his form. While he showed flashes of his old self in his recent comeback attempt, he struggles with consistency. His battle is not just against his game but also against his physical limitations. Woods’ practice time is limited due to his physical condition, affecting his sharpness during tournaments.
If Woods decides to skip the upcoming tournaments, he could arrive at Augusta National in April with little or no recent tournament experience, which could impact his performance. His journey back to top form continues as he navigates the challenges posed by his body and strives for consistency on the golf course.
