Tiger Woods confirmed Saturday over social media that he is dealing with the flu.
Woods’ announcement came one day after he withdrew from the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
“I would like to confirm that I had to withdraw from (the Genesis Invitational) due to illness, which we now know is influenza,” the 15-time major champion wrote on Twitter. “I am resting and feeling better. Good luck to the players this weekend. I’m disappointed to not be there and want to thank (the tournament) and all the fans for the support.”
Woods’ post on Twitter is in line with the message revealed by Rob McNamara, his friend and business partner.
“So he started feeling some flu-like symptoms (on Thursday) night,” McNamara said on Friday. “Woke up this morning, they were worse than the night previous. He had a little bit of a fever and that, and was better during the warm-up, but then when he got out there and was walking and playing, he started feeling dizzy.
“Ultimately the doctors are saying he’s got some — potentially some type of flu and that he was dehydrated. He’s been treated with an IV bag and he’s doing much, much better and he’ll be released on his own here soon.”
Woods, 48, hadn’t played an official PGA Tour event since the Masters 10 months ago, when he withdrew before undergoing ankle surgery. After shooting a 1-over 72 on Thursday, he admitted to reporters he was dealing with back spasms along with soreness in his surgically repaired leg.
Woods opened Friday’s round with a birdie and made consecutive bogeys at Nos. 4-5. After saving par at the par-3 sixth and hitting his drive at the par-4 seventh, the Golf Channel broadcast showed a rules official driving Woods off the course on a cart.
Even after the PGA Tour confirmed Woods’ withdrawal, speculation grew when fire and paramedic trucks were seen outside the Riviera clubhouse. But Woods did not leave in one of those trucks, and he was later seen leaving the property in a normal tournament vehicle.
–Field Level Media
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