Tiger Woods Withdraws from 2024 Genesis Invitational Due to Illness

Tiger Woods' run at the 2024 Genesis Invitational has come to an early end. Woods opted to withdraw from the tournament during the second round while on the seventh hole at Riviera Country Club on Friday.

His departure was attributed to illness rather than any physical injury, according to his camp. The 48-year-old had been struggling with back spasms during his first round on Thursday, and he was visibly limping as he walked off the course and played his second round on Friday.

"Tiger started experiencing flu-like symptoms last night," explained Rob McNamara, Tiger's longtime business partner and vice president of TGR Ventures. "He woke up this morning feeling worse than yesterday. He had a slight fever and started feeling dizzy during play. The doctors suspect it could be the flu along with dehydration. He's been receiving treatment with IV fluids and is already feeling much better. He'll be discharged soon."

Woods later confirmed his diagnosis of influenza on Saturday.

During the Genesis Invitational, Woods had been fighting to make the cut after an opening round of 1-over 72. Despite starting with a birdie, he dropped shots on the 4th and 5th holes, leaving him at 2-over for the tournament. With his position outside the top 50 and more than 10 strokes behind the leader, Patrick Cantlay, Woods faced the risk of missing the weekend.

This tournament marked Woods' return to the PGA Tour since the 2023 Masters, where he withdrew due to an ankle injury. However, his recent track record includes withdrawals from three of his last six tournaments since the 2022 Masters, with only two completed 72-hole events on the PGA Tour, including last season's Riviera tournament.

The next steps for Woods remain uncertain. Potential comeback tournaments could include the Arnold Palmer Invitational or The Players Championship in March, as he prepares for the Masters in April.

It's evident that Woods requires more time in competition. While showing glimpses of his former self, he struggles with consistency, evident in his first-round performance with five birdies, six bogeys, and seven pars. His battle is not just against his game but also against his body's limitations, with physical constraints impacting practice time and tournament play. If he opts out of the Florida Swing, Woods could enter Augusta National with minimal game experience for the third consecutive year.