Tiger Woods withdraws from Northern Trust, citing oblique strain

Masters champion Tiger Woods withdrew Friday from opening FedEx Cup playoffs event with what he described as a mild oblique strain.

It was first time Woods has pulled out in middle of a tournament since Dubai Desert Classic in February 2017, two months before he h a fourth surgery on his back to fuse his lower spine.

“Due to a mild oblique strain that led to pain and stiffness, I have to withdraw from rrn Trust,” Woods said in a statement released by PGA Tour. “I went for treatment early Friday morning, but unfortunately I’m still unable to compete.”

Woods, playing in only his second tournament since U.S. Open in June, opened with a 4-over 75 on a Liberty National course so soft that only one or player h a higher score. It was his second-worst score in 89 rounds in FedEx Cup playoffs.

He has said all year that re are days when his back doesn’t feel as limber. In March, he decided t to play Arld Palmer Invitational on ro to Masters because of lingering soreness in his neck. At PGA Championship, he played only nine holes of practice in cold wear at Bethp Black, where he missed cut.

Woods stopped hitting full shots on back nine of his pro-am Wednesday at Liberty National. After his opening round, he said his back was “a little stiff, but that’s just way it’s going to be.”

He said he is hopeful to play next week in BMW Championship at Medinah, where he won two of his PGA Championship titles.

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If he plays, Woods likely would need to move back into top 30 in FedEx Cup to vance to Tour Championship, where he is defending champion. It was last year at East Lake that he capped off his comeback from four back surgeries with his first victory in five years.

That comeback included a busy schedule to get back among elite in game.

Woods h played only 17 official tournaments after his first back surgery in April 2014, and fusion surgery was as much about quality of life as golf. His tie for sixth in British Open last year got him back into top 50 in world and me him eligible for a World Golf Championship. His runner-up finish in PGA Championship assured he could play all four FedEx Cup playoff events.

And with Ryder Cup, he wound up playing eight times in 11 weeks, including five of last six. Woods has said all year he would t play nearly as much. If he doesn’t make it to Chicago area next week for BMW Championship, he will have played just 11 times this season — five times since winning Masters.

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