Tiger Woods' long-time confidante reveals why he WD from Genesis Invitational

Tiger Woods' long-time confidante Rob McNamara told reporters why the 82-time PGA Tour winner withdrew from the 2024 Genesis Invitational.

Ben Smith

17 Feb 2024

Tiger Woods' long-time confidante reveals why he WD from Genesis Invitational — Tiger Woods' long-time confidante reveals why he WD from Genesis…

Tiger Woods' long-time confidante and executive vice president of TGR Ventures has confirmed the 15-time major champion withdrew from the Genesis Invitational because of 'flu-like' symptoms after feeling dizzy.

Woods, 48, had only played six holes of the second round of the PGA Tour event he hosts annually before he decided to call it a day.

A tournament official arrived on a golf cart and the hall of fame golfer was whisked back to the clubhouse with his head in his hands.

He was battling to make the cut in the 80-man, $20m prize purse event with his score at 2-over par.

His fans began to panic after an ambulance was called to Riviera Country Club and paramedics rushed in.

But ESPN later reported nobody was taken away in it. Woods was filmed leaving the property in a red Genesis SUV.

Rob McNamara released a statement to the media on behalf of Woods which claimed the withdrawal wasn't a physical ailment.

McNamara said:

"So he started feeling some flu-like symptoms last night. Woke up this morning, they were worse than the night previous.

"He had a little bit of a fever and was better during the warm-up, but then when he got out there and was walking and playing, he started feeling dizzy.

"Ultimately the doctors are saying he's got some -- potentially some type of flu and that he was dehydrated.

"He's been treated with an IV bag and he's doing much, much better and he'll be released on his own here soon."

Asked by a reporter if Woods was struggling with leg, back or ankle pain, McNamara added: "[It was] not physical at all. His back is fine. It was all medical illness, dehydration, which is now, the symptoms are reversing themselves now that he's had an IV."

This was Woods' first official start on the PGA Tour since he withdrew from the 2023 Masters at Augusta National.

Woods later went on to have fusion surgery on his ankle, which alleviated the pain he was feeling after developing plantar fasciitis.

The 82-time PGA Tour winner went on to play the PNC Championship alongside his teenage son Charlie.

And he also played in the Hero World Challenge in Albany, Bahamas, in December.

It was there where Woods stated he was optimistic of playing at least one event per month in 2024.

This week Woods also looked decidedly different after debuting his new apparel line.

The iconic golfer has launched Sun Day Red in association with his equipment manufacturer TaylorMade. Woods left Nike after 27 years in January.

Whilst McNamara has stated Woods' withdrawal was because of flu-like symptoms, the golfer did concede he was struggling with back spasms during the first round.

One spasm led to Woods hitting a shank on the 18th hole, en route to returning a scorecard of 72.

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