Tiger Woods: Struggles Continue after Withdrawal From Dubai Desert Classic
Tiger Woods has been struggling, first with injuries and then with healing from surgery. Citing back spasms, Woods has withdrawn from the Dubai Desert Classic.
Tiger Woods has had quite a year so far. After a 17-month layoff, Tiger hoped to make a major comeback to competition. He started his year off last week at the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego but missed the cut after shooting four-over par at Torrey Pines.
Still, it looked promising that Tiger would play well in Dubai, a tournament that he told media he enjoyed playing in and being a part of. Tiger Woods has never missed the cut at the Dubai Desert Classic, until this week.
Woods’ manager Mark Steinberg told GolfDigest.com, ” He felt OK coming off the golf course yesterday.” But, when speaking to media this morning, Steinberg explained that Woods had back spasms after dinner Thursday night.
Steinberg also told BBC Sport, “He doesn’t have the strongest back in the world so it’s probably easier to spasm because of the issues he’s had.”
Woods carded a five-over par 77 in his opening round on Thursday. He seemed to be walking gingerly and was not very consistent with his short game during that round. When speaking to the media after his first round, Woods didn’t act like he was in pain.
Woods told BBC Sport, “I wasn’t in pain at all. I was just trying to hit shots and I wasn’t doing a good job.”
Tiger had a couple of good opportunities in the first round which he wasn’t able to take advantage of. On the par-3 seventh hole, The Big Cat hit the green off the tee but wasn’t able to make his 12-footer for birdie.
Not only was his putting off, but Woods had trouble off the tee as well.
On the par-4 sixth Woods hit his drive way out into the right rough. He had to chip and then missed his five-foot par putt to finish the hole with a bogey.
After the round, Tiger’s website published an article which said Woods was disappointed most in his ball striking ability and putting during the round.
Tiger Woods has not won a tournament on any tour since 2013 and his last win at a major came in 2008 at the U.S. Open while battling a leg injury. His last tournament win came at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in August of 2013 when he got into a playoff with Keegan Bradley and Henrik Stenson. He won that tournament with a score of 15-under par 265.
Instead of playing the weekend in Dubai, Woods will now be heading back to the United States to prepare for his next tournament, the Genesis Open in Riviera, California in two weeks. After that, he’ll go back to his home state of Florida to play in the Honda Classic from the 23-26 of February. After last week, there seemed to be hope for Tiger Woods, but now, his future is again in doubt.
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