Tiger Woods Withdraws from Genesis Invitational Due to Illness

Golf Icon Tiger Woods Withdraws from Genesis Invitational Due to Illness

Los Angeles, CA | February 18, 2023

Golf legend Tiger Woods was forced to withdraw from the ongoing Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club on Friday, citing flu-like symptoms that had been plaguing him since the previous day.

Woods, the tournament host, made a strong start to the event on Thursday, carding a one-over-par 72 in the opening round. However, the 15-time major champion’s condition deteriorated overnight, and he was unable to continue his second round.

According to Rob McNamara, the executive vice president of TGR Ventures, Woods had “a little bit of a fever” during his warm-up on Friday and started feeling dizzy as he walked the course. “Ultimately the doctors are saying he’s got some – potentially some type of flu and that he was dehydrated,” McNamara said, adding that Woods had been treated with an intravenous (IV) fluid and was “doing much, much better” and would soon be released.

The 48-year-old Woods, who is still recovering from an ankle fusion surgery he underwent last April, had struggled with a back spasm towards the end of his opening round, which ultimately led to a bogey on the 18th hole. His withdrawal from the tournament comes as a setback, as he was looking to build momentum after making his return to the PGA Tour at the Hero World Challenge in December.

In a separate development, Jordan Spieth was disqualified from the Genesis Invitational for signing an incorrect scorecard, having marked a 3 on the fourth hole when he had actually made a 4.

With Woods out of the picture, Patrick Cantlay holds a commanding five-shot lead heading into the weekend, sitting at 13-under-par. Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, managed to make the cut after following up his opening-round 74 with a flawless 66 on Friday.

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