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Tiger Woods withdraws from Dubai Desert Classic with back spasms

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Those optimistic about the most recent comeback attempt of Tiger Woods face yet another hurdle in their conviction that the 41-year-old can return to his winning ways. Woods withdrew from the European Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic on Friday one hour before his tee time citing with back spasms that left him unable “to make a full rotation in his swing,” according to agent Mark Steinberg.

Woods shot a 77 on Thursday at the Emirates Golf Club, leaving him 12 shots behind Round 1 leader Sergio Garcia. He appeared to be in discomfort throughout the round, but told reporters afterward that he was not experiencing back pain.

“No, I wasn’t in pain at all,” Woods said. “I was just trying to hit shots and I wasn’t doing a very good job.”

The back spasms occurred after dinner on Thursday night, Steinberg said. “He tried to work it out, but didn’t get it worked out.” Steinberg clarified that the spasms Woods is experiencing are not coupled with the nerve pain the 14-time major champion has battled the last two seasons that has resulted in three back operations.

Woods is scheduled to play in next week’s Genesis Open on the PGA Tour and the Honda Classic the following week.

Discussion: See what GolfWRX Members are saying about Woods’ withdraw in our forum.

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53 Comments

53 Comments

  1. Guia

    Feb 4, 2017 at 8:55 pm

    I have/am hoping that he can pull it together. But I am beginning to think that a number of the times he has pulled out demonstrates that he does not handle pain or physical diversity very well. I am old and seem to always have something that isn’t physically right. Of course, I don’t play for a living or fame.

  2. AP

    Feb 3, 2017 at 10:41 pm

    Leave the man be and go back to your shanties…. People feel the need to revel in someone else’s failure to build themselves up, and that is the saddest part of all. Let the man golf until he doesn’t golf, and let that be the end of it. People should be rooting for the success of their favorite player, not the demise of another. He’s the reason half of the young tour players today even picked a club and the reason why purse amounts are so astronomically high. Golf needs him and since his decline, all I hear from interviews is how the state of the GAME is in free-fall as viewership/participation in the game is losing ground. Love him or hate him, there’s no changing his legacy/importance, and he should be able to go about his business, no matter who hates him. Its his occupation and livelihood, so anyone who would like comments on their at-work performance should look hard into the mirror and be thankful the world isn’t critical of their every wrong move. You don’t know him, you’ve likely never met him, so stop all the condescension and judgment.

    • Skip

      Feb 4, 2017 at 11:29 am

      Very well-said. Funny the lack of tact people have behind a keyboard.

    • Brian

      Feb 5, 2017 at 11:26 am

      Tiger is reaping what he has sown. If you can’t understand that, you should probably avoid article comment sections related to Tiger.

      • Hack

        Feb 6, 2017 at 10:06 am

        You mean because he cheated on his wife? Yeah, he is the first touring pro to ever do that. Well except for that absolute legend that you would get crucified for ever saying a word against and a few hundred others.

  3. mka

    Feb 3, 2017 at 10:29 pm

    Tiger has made some decisions in the past that are having adverse effects on his game…for some time now. His championship level of play seems to be in a downward spiral. He’s had an amazing run, though!

  4. Tom54

    Feb 3, 2017 at 6:32 pm

    My comment on Tiger is simple. When he was on top of the golf world when he was playing he knew 99% of people were in awe of him. Fast forward after his fall from grace he most likely steps on the tee wondering how many fans now think he’s a loser. He was never able to capture that aura about him again. It is sad cause let’s be real, no one has been able to propel a golf ball around like he could. I agree with those who say stay away from the gym and hit balls.

    • Ommmmmm

      Feb 4, 2017 at 3:09 am

      I wasn’t in awe of him. In fact, I wasn’t even playing enough golf in the 90’s and 00’s to care who was what and what golf clubs looked like. I didn’t know people thought he had an aura. He’s never endeared himself to his Thai routes, so he never had his aura to start, he only pretended to be Buddhist when he got caught with them chicks, so he never had any aura, as fake as he’s been all his life. Lets be real, he was always fake, and he still is. So much acting. And he’s not even good at it, you can hear it in the manner and style he speaks. He should have reached out more to his Thai roots through his mother from the beginning than learn to chase tail, taking after his father and his father’s best friend.

      • Skip

        Feb 4, 2017 at 11:33 am

        nobody really cares if you were in awe of him or not.

        • S Hitter

          Feb 4, 2017 at 8:35 pm

          Obviously you do, enough to come here and comment inanely, you eejit

  5. BooBunkie

    Feb 3, 2017 at 5:26 pm

    What, who me, back problems?! Not even!! I’m jumpin’ out of a plane next week with the Navy SEALS! Then I’m entering a SAP long drive comp from the top of a sky scraper after that! Then off to LA for the Riviera deal. Let’s see, then the east coast swing! Huh, what, I got this! My back brackets are not coming loose, I was just wearing the wrong size shoes in Dubai. What 15-18 hour flight, I slept in the prone position all the way. Not a big deal guys, I got this! I’ll be at the Mahztaz in April ready to WIN!! You’ll see, just a hiccup in my run to the top again. No worries!!!

    Yeah right Eldrick………..yeah right!!!

  6. B Moore

    Feb 3, 2017 at 4:39 pm

    As long as he got his appearance fee, what does it matter?

    • Ommmmmm

      Feb 4, 2017 at 3:10 am

      Exactly. Laughing all the way to the bank.

  7. Jim

    Feb 3, 2017 at 3:52 pm

    Back spasms?…more like brain spasms…
    TIGER is Fini….dead as a 40 yr old Wilson just dredged out of a water hazard.

    BIGGEST Brain meltdown since Ian Baker Finch…

    Malpractice-level bad ‘coaching’ from Haney/Foley didn’t help, but we’re far enough beyond them and even the physical damage they caused….He should NOT be looking like he’s 25 and just finished BUDS…He’s definitely not training right for a golfer with injuries to protect.

    IF Eldric ever gets his head out of his butt, he can win another couple events…What’d be wrong with hitting it 299 in play and spending less time IFO mirrors in the gym and more on putting

    • Ommmmmm

      Feb 4, 2017 at 3:12 am

      Haney never did anything wrong. The Haney period was one of the most productive that Eldrick had. It’s Eldrick’s tail chasing that messed him up, not Hank Haney. Open your eyes

    • Brenner Pieszak

      Feb 4, 2017 at 11:56 am

      have you been watching him play? you think putting is his problem? lol, this sounds like your fat and out of shape and you like to golf so it makes u feel better when good golfers dont look like they work out.

      he defntly doesnt look anything like jason day, the world no.1, right????

      right?

      right????

      right?

      u sound like a tool dude lol

  8. mike t

    Feb 3, 2017 at 3:51 pm

    Why in the world would you take a 15 hour plane flight to play in Dubai knowing you have a history of recent back surgeries ???

    • Tazz2293

      Feb 3, 2017 at 5:54 pm

      There were 1.5 Million reasons he did. Whether he gets to keep it is another story

    • Brenner Pieszak

      Feb 4, 2017 at 11:57 am

      just like you me and everyone else in the world, tiger likes this thing called money. imagine how much they paid him to come play there this week instead of phoenix or w/e.

      a lot. 😀

  9. M-Herd4

    Feb 3, 2017 at 3:43 pm

    Whew! Thank God it’s just his back… I thought for sure his glutes weren’t activating again!!

  10. Jeff

    Feb 3, 2017 at 11:55 am

    Brandel was talking about him on the Golf Channel, he said he looked like the oldest 40 year old EVER!!! He looked like he was walking around standing as straight up as you can, coming out of a bunker early in the round. When I saw him walking, he looked jacked up. He completely tried to hide his pain and discomfort. IMO, he will never, ever win again. He told us he wouldn’t come back until he was ready. And he thought he was ready???? I don’t think so. He is DONE!! His body can not handle playing golf anymore. So sad!!!????????????????

    • S Hitter

      Feb 3, 2017 at 1:03 pm

      Happy!

      • Tazz2293

        Feb 3, 2017 at 5:56 pm

        Yes. Now if the media and the Golf Channel will cool their jets we can get back to following Golf without having to hear the constant drum beat of the sycophants

  11. Carl

    Feb 3, 2017 at 11:54 am

    Sad but watching so many of these young pros you see the swings they “Haff” to use to compete on tour is trouble brewing….there are many short cut swings sold to us Amatures (Graves Moe Norman, Peek Performance by Don Trahan, Square to Square etc) which for the shorter old hitters can make the game a lot easier on the body. The kids got to stay in shape to play the game and as Tiger is showing even staying in shape is not going to keep all of them away from injury…you can blame the length of courses on this problem for sure…

    • S Hitter

      Feb 3, 2017 at 1:05 pm

      Nobody said anything about staying in shape like a Chippendales linebacker would be good for a golf swing

  12. robin

    Feb 3, 2017 at 11:31 am

    Like all Ped users there bodies breaks down before there time.

  13. Mower

    Feb 3, 2017 at 10:59 am

    You have to look at Phil Mickelson; never got all “ripped up” like Tiger and is still going strong. From that, I have to conclude that muscle building puts un-needed stress on the body, and not good for longevity in golf.

    • Scott

      Feb 3, 2017 at 11:05 am

      I am not so sure that I agree with that, but I will say that if you are getting ripped, it appears that you need a different pre and post game stretching routine to keep from tightening up. I am not sure if the stretching routines that Tiger and others use really work, or are they not doing them enough.

    • Greg Marthaler

      Feb 3, 2017 at 12:06 pm

      And yet, Tiger 25-1 for Augusta, Phil 30-1!

    • Tim

      Feb 3, 2017 at 12:08 pm

      Not just Tiger a lot of these younger pros are wearing out their bodies trying to hit the driver over 300 yards….then going up and hitting 9 irons 170 yards…maxing out distance every other swing is going to tear anyones body down sooner then later….

  14. Hook nose Slicer

    Feb 3, 2017 at 10:15 am

    I think it had more to do with him being very far back in the pack, no chance of making the cut, and the terrible weather delay conditions. He just wanted to come home. Back spasm is a believable excuse. Especially the way his agent is padding it.

    • Grizz01

      Feb 3, 2017 at 10:24 am

      Absolutely. Tiger has pulled this crap before. I was hoping he would have grown up by now and take his bad play like a man. No, he’ll never when another major, not because of some physical problem, but because he can’t mentally handle playing poorly.

      • Rafibomb

        Feb 3, 2017 at 12:15 pm

        I agree. Tiger collected his $1 – 2 million dollar appearance fee and went home.

    • Grizz01

      Feb 3, 2017 at 10:28 am

      No back problems, just head problems. Look at his chest. He’s been pumping iron, you can’t bench press with a bad back.

  15. NolanMBA

    Feb 3, 2017 at 10:03 am

    (sigh)…

  16. ooffa

    Feb 3, 2017 at 10:00 am

    Another WD. Who could have predicted that would happen?

  17. blakes

    Feb 3, 2017 at 9:15 am

    he’s gonna get eaten up at the Honda Classic. I see a couple of 80s in his future if he doesn’t go ahead and WD.

  18. golfraven

    Feb 3, 2017 at 8:51 am

    Ok, Tiger is 40 now and maybe not as fresh than at his prime but no reason for a coup de grâce. Even I give him another 10-20 years on tour (most of that on the senior tour).

    • golfraven

      Feb 3, 2017 at 8:54 am

      Maybe not evident from the article but I received the email from WRX with following subject:
      Is he finished? Tiger withdraws in Dubai

    • Ommmmmm

      Feb 4, 2017 at 3:15 am

      Yes but he wants to win a few more majors, wasn’t that the plan?

  19. JJVas

    Feb 3, 2017 at 8:43 am

    From a 41-year old with back issues… it’s over, dude. Get as healthy as you can and enjoy life with the kids. Take up fly fishing. This is Larry Bird laying on the towel. It doesn’t get better, it gets worse. Nothing left to prove. Second doesn’t suck, and he’s the 2nd best player of all-time.

    • Justin

      Feb 3, 2017 at 9:53 am

      *greatest player of all time

      • JJVas

        Feb 3, 2017 at 10:54 am

        **Except for that pesky Hall of Fame major career (Ernie Els / Ray Floyd / Rory McIlroy) in between #1 and #2.

      • DrRob1963

        Feb 3, 2017 at 6:24 pm

        Nicklaus & Hogan were both better than Tiger IMHO, but Tiger is right up there. Still love to see Tiger back to his top form!

  20. SV

    Feb 3, 2017 at 8:40 am

    He may say he didn’t have back pain, but the way he was walking, and even standing, from the first hole on sure looked liked something was wrong.

  21. Weekend Duffer

    Feb 3, 2017 at 8:34 am

    It’s getting sad.

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