According to Tiger Woods, he feels better. He claims to be sleeping.
Additionally, he verified in a statement released on Saturday what had been suggested the day before when he unexpectedly pulled out of the Genesis Invitational.
Just four phrases made up his social media message, and it wasn’t obvious if he would try to make a comeback to the Genesis for Sunday’s championship round in his capacity as tournament host. In a Woods flurry, the communication also contained the most recent news.
He was playing in his first PGA Tour event since withdrawing from the Masters in April of last year, and he opened the tournament on Thursday with an erratic, one-over 72. He scored five points for the birdies. He produced six bogeys. He once shanked. Later on, he attributed the mishap to a back ache.
He opened with a birdie on Friday during the Genesis’ second round. But afterward, Gary Woodland, Woods’ playing partner, acknowledged Woods appeared distant. There were rumors that he went to the restroom several times. He was done by the seventh hole and was taken back to the clubhouse by PGA Tour rules official Pete Dachisen.
And then there was uncertainty. Mark Dusbabek informed Golf Channel watchers that a medical condition rather than his back was the cause of his WD. There were two fire vehicles and an ambulance at Riviera. Every several minutes, medical personnel would come and go from the clubhouse. Eventually, the ambulance and fire trucks pulled away.
Woods trailed behind them afterwards. Woods stepped out at approximately 3:40 p.m. local time, followed by an official driving off in a red Genesis coupe.
Longtime Woods confidant Rob McNamara issued the following Q&A via the PGA Tour media team:
Regarding the WD, was it just an illness? Was it? Please clarify.
McNamara: “That’s right. He so began experiencing flu-like symptoms last night. When I woke up this morning, they had gotten worse throughout the previous evening. He was feeling better throughout the warm-up despite having a slight fever and other health issues. However, as soon as he stepped outside to play and stroll, he began to feel lightheaded. In the end, the physicians are stating that he was dehydrated and may have had the flu. He is doing incredibly well after receiving treatment with an IV bag, and he will soon be allowed to leave this place on his own.
Question “Just to confirm, with all the EMT trucks, you know, everybody, the personnel here, everybody was thinking there was a lot of seriousness going on. So nothing structural as far as back or ankle or …”
McNamara: “Correct, correct. Not physical at all; his back’s fine. It was all medical illness, dehydration, which is now the symptoms are reversing themselves now that he’s had an IV.”
After his round, Woodland said Woods didn’t look “right.”
“He was quieter,” Woodland said. “Obviously it’s cut day, we’re all trying to play well, especially the whole group’s trying to focus and pick ourselves up and play well. Yeah, it was — I feel bad for him, he wasn’t right. He definitely was trying to fight through it and I hope he’s all right.”
