Tiger drops out of two PGA Tour events due to back spasms

Tiger Woods will not compete in two scheduled upcoming PGA Tour events due to nagging back spasms that forced him to pull out of an event in Dubai last week, the former world number one said on Friday.

Woods, who has struggled mightily in his much-anticipated comeback this year following back surgery, said on his website he will be unable to compete in the Feb. 16-19 Genesis Open in California and the following week's Honda Classic in Florida.

"My doctors have advised me not to play the next two weeks, to continue my treatment and to let my back calm down," said Woods. "This is not what I was hoping for or expecting."

Woods's possible playing schedule will be determined at a later date after his back is reassessed, according to his website.

Woods, now ranked 674th in the world after a long injury layoff due to a series of back issues, pulled out of the Dubai Desert Classic ahead of his second round because of back spasms a day after shooting a miserable five-over 77.

A week earlier, in his return to the PGA Tour after an absence of 17 months, he missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open outside san Diego.

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto. Editing by Steve Keating)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

I will never feel great again, says Woods

Former world number one Tiger Woods has accepted that he will "never feel great" again after suffering a number of back and knee injuries in recent years.

The 14-times major champion returned to action in December following a 15-month layoff but was forced to pull out of the Dubai Desert Classic last week after the first round due to a back spasm.

"There were a lot of times I didn't think I was going to make it back. It was tough, it was more than brutal," Woods told Dubai magazine Vision.

The 41-year-old American has racked up 79 PGA Tour victories in his career but has not won a major championship since 2008.


"There have been plenty of times when I thought I would never play the game again at the elite level," Woods, ranked 674th in the world, said.

"It was tough, it was more than brutal. There were times I needed help just to get out of bed.

"I feel good, not great. I don't think I will ever feel great because it's three back surgeries, four knee operations," he added.

Woods is hoping to play in the U.S. Masters in April, the first major of the year.

"I'm always going to be a little bit sore. As long as I can function, I'm fine with that," he said.

(Reporting by Ed Osmond; Editing by Toby Davis)

source: news.abs-cbn.com