Tiger Woods Confirms Withdrawal From Genesis Invitational Was Due to Influenza: ‘Disappointed to Not be There’

Tiger Woods has broken his silence following his departure from the Genesis Invitational golf tournament and shared more about his health.

The golf champion’s withdrawal from the tournament was announced on Friday, after he was carted off the course during the competition that afternoon after suffering flu-like symptoms.

On Saturday, Woods (48) spoke about his dating and confirmed the details of his health condition statement published on X (formerly Twitter). “I would like to confirm that I have had to withdraw from @thegenesisinv due to illness, which we now know is the flu,” he said. “I’m resting and feeling better.”

“Good luck to the players this weekend. I’m disappointed not to be there and want to thank @GenesisUSA and all the fans for their support,” Woods concluded.

Woods withdrew from the Genesis Invitational due to the flu.

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Tiger Woods withdrew from the Genesis Invitational during the second round

Woods withdrew from the tournament when he was 1-over through six holes on Friday after experiencing back spasms along with flu-like symptoms. He was then chased off the golf course by a rules official at 1:35 p.m. local time, according to an article posted on the PGA Tour website.

The Hall of Fame golfer was then treated by emergency personnel for “potential dehydration and dizziness related to his illness” on the Riviera Country Club course, according to the PGA Tour.

Woods had been suffering from flu-like symptoms the night before that worsened by Friday, Rob McNamara, executive vice president of TGR Ventures, said in a statement.

Woods was carted off the golf course after falling ill on Friday.

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“He had a low temperature and was better during the warm-up,” McNamara said in a statement Friday, according to the PGA Tour. “But when he went outside and walked and played, he started to feel dizzy. Ultimately, the doctors say he has some — potentially some kind of flu and he’s dehydrated.”

“He is being treated with an IV bag and is doing much better and will be released on his own soon,” McNamara concluded.

On Thursday, Woods talked about back spasms after trying to hit an 8-iron from the right side of the 18th fairway.

Woods also had a back spasm before leaving the competition.

Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty

“Well, my back has been cramping for the last couple [of] hole and it was locking,” he said, according to ESPN. “I went down and it didn’t move, and I presented [the] hosel first and shivered him.”

In April 2023, Woods had fusion surgery on his right ankle to treat post-traumatic arthritis suffered in a car accident in February 2021. He then took a break from competition for nearly eight months, during which time he suffered from back spasms.

After Thursday’s competition, according to ESPN, Woods said of his right ankle, “Things are a little sore, but that’s to be expected.”

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Because of his physical strain, he was able to finish the day tied for 49th, eight shots behind first-round leader Patrick Cantlay.

“I’m going to get rusty and I have to do a better job at home in preparation,” Woods said, according to a source. “We’ve got to do a better job of lifting and healing and continuing the rehab protocols, all that stuff. I just haven’t done it in a while.”

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