Tour News
Tiger Woods withdraws from Dubai Desert Classic with back spasms

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.
Tiger’s agent Mark Steinberg explains the reasons behind Woods’ withdrawal. pic.twitter.com/V6qK4AojxQ
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 3, 2017
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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Equipment
American Express, Abu Dhabi Golf Championship Tour Truck Report: BK to Srixon? MCA has a ton of new shafts, Rickie goes graphite

TaylorMade
Most of the big action for Team TaylorMade is taking place in Abu Dhabi with Rory and Tommy in the field. After extensive weeks of testing, this is what they have in the bag this week
Tommy Fleetwood WITB
Driver: TaylorMade SIM2 (10.5 degrees @8.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana DF 70 TX (tipped 1 inch, 44.75 inches)
3-wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Rocket 3 (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana DF 70 TX (42.5 inches)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana DF 80 TX (41.25 inches)
Irons: TaylorMade P7TF (4-PW)
Shafts: Project X Rifle 6.5
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot Pro 3
Grip: SuperStroke Mid Slim 2.0
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord (D, 3W, 5W, 7W, and wedges), Iomic Sticky @12:30 (irons)
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x ’21 Proto
Rory McIlroy WITB
Driver: TaylorMade SIM2 (10.5 degrees @8.5)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X (45.5 inches, 59.25 lie, D4)
3-wood: TaylorMade SIM2 (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX (43.25 inches, 58 lie, D4)
5-wood: TaylorMade SIM2 (19 degrees @ 18.25)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 90 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P7MB (4-PW)
Shaft: Project X Rifle 7.0 (6.5 in PW)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG2 (52-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-08LB)
Shaft: Project X Rifle 6.5
Putter: TaylorMade Spider X Copper (34.25 inches, 2.5 loft, 70 lie)
Ball: 2021 TaylorMade TP5x (#22)
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord (58R 1+1, logo down)
Matthew Wolff WITB
Driver: TaylorMade SIM2 Max (10.5 degrees @9)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD TP 7 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Titanium (15 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD XC 8 X
Irons: TaylorMade P7MC (3-PW)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: TaylorMade MG2 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-09LB)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Grips: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord (+3 double-sided tape)
Putter: TaylorMade Spider X Proto (33 inches, lie at 70, 3.5 loft, D4)
Grip: TaylorMade Red/Black
Ball: TaylorMade TP5 ’21 PIX
Other TM news
Doc Redman put the new Aldila Ascent Red 70 TX in his SIM2 (60 TX pictured below).
Sepp Straka put the new MCA Kaili White 60 TX in his SIM2.
Titleist
The Fujikura Ventus Red trend continues with Russell Henley moving from his KBS TD to Ventus Red 7 X in a TSi4.
Tyler Duncan was testing a custom K Grind lob wedge. He was inspired by Kevin Na’s win and looking at Aaron Dill’s pics on IG. Can you blame him?
Justin Thomas (Abu Dhabi) moved out of Ventus Red 6 TX (tipped 1 inch) in his TSi3 (9 degrees) into a Graphite Design Tour AD IZ 6 X. According to my source, JT was looking for a specific feel with the driver and also one that dialed in the launch windows on a little cutter he has been working on. We will keep you updated if it sticks or if any of the info changes.
Callaway
Akshay Bhatia put the new Apex Utility Prototype in play with a KBS Tour Hybrid Prototype 105 X shaft. Shay also put the new Epic Max LS driver (9 degrees @8.5) with a Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green “Hulk” 75G 6.5 TX.
Kevin Na tested Callaway’s Epic Max LS (9 degrees) with a Graphite Design Tour AD GP 6 X. No need to panic, that original Epic gamer ain’t goin’ anywhere till it keels over and dies.
Phil Mickelson was spotted testing a Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X shaft in a Mavrik Sub Zero. Not confirmed if it will indeed go in play.
Ping
Scott Stallings (non-staff) put a Ping G425 LST (10.5 degrees @11) driver in play with an MCA Kaili White 60 TX (tipped 1 inch @45.25).
Abraham Ancer (non-staff) also converted to the Ping G425 LST (9 degrees @7.75) with an MCA Tensei AV Raw Blue 65 TX (tipped 1 inch @45).
Cameron Champ lost his clubs en route to Palm Desert and the Ping Tour squad had to build a brand new set of sticks from scratch, top to bottom. Thankfully the gamers showed up and Cam was left with a fresh new backup set.
Srixon
Rumor has it that former world No. 1 Brooks Koepka has inked a deal with Cleveland/Srixon to play its Z-Star XV ball, ZX7 irons and Cleveland Zip Core Wedges. Koepka showed up to Palm Desert with a new set of irons with Tour Issue X100 shafts, a Srixon utility, and his trusty Nike Vapor Pro 3-iron and TaylorMade M5 driver with an MCA Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX shaft. We will continue to update to confirm or deny the rumors. Awesome news for Srixon and BK if true.
Cobra
Rickie Fowler made some significant changes to his bag coming into Palm Desert. The Cobra staffer put the REV33 MB’s back in the bag this time with a fresh set of Mitsubishi Chemical MMT 125 TX graphite shafts. Fowler, who has tested quite a few different shafts over the years, going from KBS C-Taper S+ to Tour Issue X100, loved the integrity of the MMT’s.
In testing, they tried a set that was soft stepped as well as the current set that is straight in. The overall takeaway was integrity on mis-hits and hitting a very specific flight window all while keeping spin the same. Fowler also had the new Cobra RadSpeed Driver in the bag with a Mitsubishi Tensei Orange 60 TX shaft.
Jason Dufner put the new Aldila Tour Concept 60 TX in his Rad Speed Driver (70 TX pictured below).
Free Agents
Scottie Scheffler finally swapped out his TaylorMade P730’s for a brand new set of P7TW’s (5-PW). Like his older set, they come fully loaded with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts. Scottie did keep his Srixon Utility 3-iron and Z785 4-iron in the bag, however.
Newly minted free agent Ryan Moore showed up to the Desert with a bag only a true gear junkie could love. The six-company bag featured a TaylorMade SIM Driver, TSi2 3-wood, Srixon hybrids, Mizuno MP-18 irons, and Cleveland Zip Core wedges.
Paul Casey put the Titleist TSi3 driver in the bag with a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX shaft.
KBS seeded out a new Proto graphite shaft. The yet-to-be-named new edition to the TD line has a higher modulus material on the bottom third to increase stability and lower torque. The feedback with the original TD from players with fast speeds: it needed to be stiffer. This “newer version,” which will probably only come in the category 4 and 5, is very firm.
Patrick Reed went back to his Ping G400 LST driver—that’s all on that.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2021 American Express

GolfWRX is live at The 2020 American Express as the tour returns to the mainland United States following its Hawaii Swing.
Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed, Patrick Cantlay, and of course the tournament’s host, Phil Mickelson, will all tee it up in La Quinta, California, this week.
We have an abundance of special galleries as new gear floods the tour as players return to the continental U.S. for the first time in 2021, as well as general galleries for your perusal.
Special galleries
- Cameron putters – 2021 American Express
- PXG Gen 4 prototype drivers – new putters
- UST Maymiya LinQ shafts – American Express 2021
- Mitsubishi Kaili & MMT shafts – American Express 2021
- Titleist TSi 2 & TSi 3 hybrids – American Express 2021
- TaylorMade putter cover for Palm Springs/Palm Desert – American Express
- New Aldila Synergy, Ascent & prototype shafts – American Express 2021
- Callaway Apex Pro iron, Epic Driver and fairway, Apex iron & hybrid
- New Perfect Practice training aids – American Express 2021
- New KBS prototype shafts – American Express 2021
- Rickie – Cobra driver & MMT graphite shafts in his irons – American Express 2021
- Cameron putters (#2) – American Express 2021
- Cameron putters – #3 – American Express 2021
- Super Stroke grips – American Express 2021
- Odyssey putter covers – American Express 2021
- Paul Casey putting a Titleist driver in play – American express 2021
- Graphite Design AD HD shafts – American Express 2021
- Anirban Lahiri’s custom Odyssey/Toulon putter – American Express 2021
General galleries
- 2021 American Express – Tuesday #1
- 2021 American Express – Tuesday #2
- 2021 American Express – Tuesday #3
- 2021 American Express – Tuesday #4
- 2021 American Express – Wednesday #1
- 2021 American Express – Wednesday #2
- 2021 American Express – Wednesday #3
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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News
New troops: PXG announces additions to tour staff for 2021

Earlier this week, it was the Brooklyn Nets making big news in the NBA with player acquisitions. Now in the golf world, it’s PXG, who is also adding to its roster with a number of new players on both the PGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour.
The newest members of the PXG roster, which they like to call “troops” are
- Jim Herman
- Sung Kang
- Danny Lee
- Luke List
- Henrik Norlander
- Adam Schenk
- Kyle Stanley
- Hudson Swafford
Speaking to the switch, Sung Kang said
“PXG makes some of the best performing equipment in golf. I know, with the support of Bob Parsons, his team, and PXG clubs, that I am going to be able to take my game to the next level!”
The professionals from the Korn Ferry Tour joining current PXG staffers Scott Langley and Grant Hirschman include
- Kevin Dougherty
- Nicolas Echavarria
- KK Limbhaust
- Justin Lower
- Seth Reeves
- Charlie Saxon
“Between grit and their love of the game, every one of these new players brings something special to the course. We are proud to welcome them all to the PXG Troops and honored that they have chosen to put PXG in play.” -PXG founder and CEO Bob Parsons.
These players join a long list of PXG staff players, which also includes LPGA Tour players Lydia Ko, Katherine Kirk, Austin Ernst, Christia Kim, Brittany Lang, Haley Moore, Celine Boutie, Ryann O’Toole, Gerina Piller, Jennifer Song, Linnea Ström, and Mina Harigae.
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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.
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.
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!
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
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!!!
Ommmmmm
Feb 4, 2017 at 3:10 am
Nice
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.
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
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
Ommmmmm
Feb 4, 2017 at 3:12 am
Bingo
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. 😀
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!!
Ommmmmm
Feb 4, 2017 at 3:13 am
That’s hilarious and so on point
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
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
robin
Feb 3, 2017 at 11:31 am
Like all Ped users there bodies breaks down before there time.
The dude
Feb 3, 2017 at 9:02 pm
Haha….really…
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!
S Hitter
Feb 3, 2017 at 1:05 pm
Not after this
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….
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.
NolanMBA
Feb 3, 2017 at 10:03 am
(sigh)…
ooffa
Feb 3, 2017 at 10:00 am
Another WD. Who could have predicted that would happen?
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.
Ommmmmm
Feb 4, 2017 at 3:14 am
He won’t even show up
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?
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!
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.
Ommmmmm
Feb 4, 2017 at 3:16 am
A poor actor doing a great job faking it
Weekend Duffer
Feb 3, 2017 at 8:34 am
It’s getting sad.