Tiger Woods’ tournament-withdrawal: Ambulance call and confusion

Confusion surrounding Tiger Woods on the PGA Tour: The 15-time major champion withdraws from the field of the 2024 Genesis Invitational on the second day of the tournament. After an ambulance call-out and Tiger’s disappearance caused confusion for a long time, the PGA Tour announced that the 48-year-old had to end the event early due to flu-like symptoms. Woods had already been struggling with back problems on the first day of the tournament.

Tiger Woods: Host with tournament withdrawal at the 2024 Genesis Invitational

Tiger Woods had certainly imagined his opening round of the year on the PGA Tour to be different. As host, the 48-year-old started the tournament with an outstanding field of participants with a round of 72 and was already struggling with cramps in his back on the first day. It was clear from the outset that Woods would not be competing for the trophy at the Genesis Invitational under normal circumstances, rather, the aim was to celebrate a start to the year without any major physical problems. The second day of the tournament was all the more disappointing for the 15-time major winner: After Woods unexpectedly left the course on the seventh hole in a golf cart without notice and an ambulance appeared on the tournament grounds, the confusion was huge. Shortly afterwards, the PGA Tour announced Tiger Woods’ withdrawal from the tournament field. While there were already speculations about a more serious injury or severe pain, the all-clear was fortunately given shortly afterwards.

Word now is that Tiger’s not gonna leave Riviera in an ambulance. Paramedic went into that door and came out saying “he’s not coming out.” Bizarre scenes. https://t.co/8CwlyMzW8s

— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) February 16, 2024

After some delay, the PGA Tour released a statement to the media from Rob McNamara, Woods’ longtime friend and business partner, clearing up the afternoon’s confusion. According to McNamara, Woods was dealing with a “flu-like” illness that worsened on Friday afternoon. “It started last night with flu-like symptoms,” McNamara said. “When he woke up this morning, they were worse than the night before. He had a little fever, and he was better during the warm-up. But then when he was on the pitch, running and playing, he felt dizzy.” The ambulance was called mainly because of Woods’ dizziness, which was due to dehydration. Thanks to an IV, however, the 48-year-old is feeling better: “His back is fine. It was all a medical condition, dehydration, [and] now the symptoms are reversing themselves after he got an IV.”

Tournament host Tiger Woods has withdrawn from The Genesis Invitational due to illness. pic.twitter.com/aR09C0FWUR

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 16, 2024