Injured Tiger Woods withdraws from The Masters at Augusta Nationwide after ‘struggling to stroll’

Tiger Woods has withdrawn from The Masters resulting from harm.

Woods, a five-time winner, visibly struggled on Saturday in relentless rain and chilly circumstances on the opening golf main of the yr.

Making simply his second begin of 2023, he battled to shut a second-round 74 on Saturday morning, which noticed him slip again to final place of the 54 gamers to qualify for the final 36 holes.

He had earlier secured a record-equalling twenty third consecutive midway minimize.

The 15-time main champion snuck via on the minimize mark of three over, regardless of bogeying his remaining two holes.

He then fell additional behind after a nightmare begin to his third spherical.

Woods – starting on the again 9 – regarded in bodily discomfort as he made two bogeys and two double-bogeys over his first seven holes, leaving the previous world No 1 on 9 over for the event and backside of the leaderboard by three pictures.

The 47-year-old – who has solely accomplished 72 holes twice since career-threatening leg accidents in a automotive crash in February 2021 – elected in opposition to returning to play what would have been an prolonged Sunday for him.

“I am disappointed to have to WD this morning due to reaggravating my plantar fasciitis,” Woods mentioned on Twitter.

“Thank you to the fans and to The Masters, who have shown me so much love and support. Good luck to the players today!”

Woods nonetheless had 11 holes of his third spherical to complete.

He would doubtless have been among the many first out for the ultimate spherical, the place event organisers will exit in pairs off a two-tee begin.

A quick assertion from event officers on Sunday learn: “Due to injury, Tiger Woods has officially withdrawn from the Masters after completing seven holes of his third round.”

Withdrawal ‘terribly unhappy to see’

Jamie Weir wrote for Sky Sports News: “He completed seven holes of his third round but we saw those terribly sad images of him struggling to walk.

“It was bitterly chilly and moist yesterday, it is chilly once more on Sunday, and clearly Tiger’s physique has simply shut down and given up on him.

“It was an incredible achievement just to make the cut, it shows what a feisty competitor he is.

“For Tiger to be up at the moment within the morning and on the point of play a spherical of golf requires hours of physio and his physique simply could not cope this time.”

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He added: “It’s terribly sad to see – you have to wonder whether we will see the great man again at The Masters.

“He himself earlier this week admitted that each time he heads out on the course he wonders whether or not it may be the final time for him.

“Knowing Tiger Woods, knowing what a feisty competitor he’s been for the last quarter of a century, he doesn’t want to turn up and just play a ceremonial role at these major championships, he only wants to be here if he believes he can compete.”