Tiger Woods withdraws from WGC-Bridgestone due to back

Tiger Woods, in visible pain, had to withdraw from the final round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday after hitting his tee shot on the ninth hole. The 14-time major winner was in distress at his car as he attempted to remove his golf shoes and change into tennis shoes. Barely able to stand, he braced himself at the back of the vehicle, unable to tie his shoes. “It happened on the second hole when I hit my second shot, I fell back into the bunker,” Woods said. “I just jarred it, and it’s been spasming ever since.” Woods had surgery on March 31 to correct a pinched nerve in his back following just four tournaments in 2014. He withdrew from the Honda Classic during the final round, and then played the WGC-Cadillac Championship a week later, shooting a third-round 66, but finding himself in distress during the final-round 78. Woods’ status for the PGA Championship in Louisville is unclear. Phil Mickelson, who is scheduled to play with Woods in the first two rounds of the PGA Championship said “It looked like he was really in pain. I hope he’s OK. I mean, I hope he’s able to play next week. I hope it’s a muscle and nothing serious because I’m really looking forward to playing with him.” Mickelson added, “As much as I love playing him, playing against him, trying to beat him, it’s we all want him in the field. We all want him back. I just hope he’s OK.” Source: ESPN via http://espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/11303294/tiger-woods-withdraws-wgc-bridgestone-back-pain-flares-up