Back Spasm! Tiger Woods Revealed His Nasty Shank on the Final Hole of His Return to the PGA Tour
- 2 months ago
Tiger Woods revealed his nasty shank on the final hole of his return to the PGA Tour was the result of a back spasm.
The 48-year-old hit a bogey on the 18th hole to finish his opening round on one-over par in California.
Woods dropped the shot after shanking his second from the fairway into the trees, dropping his club shortly after making contact.
The 15-time major winner recovered to escape with only a five and afterwards Woods provided a worrying update on his creaking body.
The 48-year-old said his shank was the result of a back spasm. He revealed that his body was acting up for the final three holes and his back 'locked up' and didn't rotate as normal.
'I shanked it,' Woods said with a smile. 'My back was spasming the last couple of holes and locking up. I came down (on my follow-through) and it didn't move.'
When asked when he last hit a shank, he added: 'It's been a while.'
Woods has undergone several operations on his back, including one to fuse his lower spine. He was also involved in a near-fatal car crash after the Genesis Invitational in 2021.
Woods headed for the treatment table following his round, telling the Golf Channel: 'We have some treatment ahead of us... to be ready for tomorrow.'
Woods, the tournament host at Riviera Country Club, played his first round of an official PGA Tour event since last year's Masters - 10 months ago - after recovering from ankle surgery.
He carded five birdies and five bogeys through the first 17 holes, never dropping lower than 1 under par or going higher than 1 over. But then came the surprise shank from the 18th fairway that sprayed into the trees to his right.
His recovery shot, a stinger around a large tree, left him with a 15-foot putt for par but the ball missed to left.
The Genesis Invitational is the third signature event of the 2024 season. That means the top 50 players and ties will cut 36 holes.
Woods was tied for 55th at the end of round one, eight strokes behind leader Patrick Cantlay.
The 48-year-old hit a bogey on the 18th hole to finish his opening round on one-over par in California.
Woods dropped the shot after shanking his second from the fairway into the trees, dropping his club shortly after making contact.
The 15-time major winner recovered to escape with only a five and afterwards Woods provided a worrying update on his creaking body.
The 48-year-old said his shank was the result of a back spasm. He revealed that his body was acting up for the final three holes and his back 'locked up' and didn't rotate as normal.
'I shanked it,' Woods said with a smile. 'My back was spasming the last couple of holes and locking up. I came down (on my follow-through) and it didn't move.'
When asked when he last hit a shank, he added: 'It's been a while.'
Woods has undergone several operations on his back, including one to fuse his lower spine. He was also involved in a near-fatal car crash after the Genesis Invitational in 2021.
Woods headed for the treatment table following his round, telling the Golf Channel: 'We have some treatment ahead of us... to be ready for tomorrow.'
Woods, the tournament host at Riviera Country Club, played his first round of an official PGA Tour event since last year's Masters - 10 months ago - after recovering from ankle surgery.
He carded five birdies and five bogeys through the first 17 holes, never dropping lower than 1 under par or going higher than 1 over. But then came the surprise shank from the 18th fairway that sprayed into the trees to his right.
His recovery shot, a stinger around a large tree, left him with a 15-foot putt for par but the ball missed to left.
The Genesis Invitational is the third signature event of the 2024 season. That means the top 50 players and ties will cut 36 holes.
Woods was tied for 55th at the end of round one, eight strokes behind leader Patrick Cantlay.