Apparently, Tiger Woods was unusually quiet before withdrawing from the Genesis Invitational. His playing mate Gary Woodland, revealed, “I saw it, he obviously wasn’t himself, just didn’t look right. Saw that before the round started. It sucks.” Tiger Woods withdrew from the second round after hitting his tee shot at the seventh hole. He was carted off the course, holding his head in his palm, visibly disappointed and frustrated that his PGA Tour comeback went awry.

The 48-year-old was 1-over par with one birdie and two bogeys when he withdrew. Only yesterday, Tiger Woods cited back spasms as the reason for his shank on the 18th. There was speculation that this time too, his back injury played a role in his withdrawal. But Rob McNamara, Woods’s friend and executive VP of TGR Ventures, said it had nothing to do with his back. 

The 15-time Major winner had a fever the previous night. It was better during the warmup but “then when he got out there and was walking and playing, he started feeling dizzy. Ultimately, the doctors are saying he’s got potentially some type of flu and that he was dehydrated.” Woodland, too, felt that Woods had been battling with physical problems since the start. 

Pressed on the matter further, the four-time PGA Tour winner added, “He just didn’t look right, just didn’t look right. He was quieter.”While Woodland admitted that it was the cut day and everyone was more focused on the game, Woods’s silence was rather telling. “I feel bad for him, he wasn’t right. He definitely was trying to fight through it and I hope he’s all right,” said the 39-year-old in the media interaction after the second round.

Woodland, who came back to the game after undergoing brain surgery, received an invitation from Tiger Woods to play at Riviera. In fact, the 39-year-old was paired with Woods & Justin Thomas for the first two rounds. Woodland shot 1-over 72 on Friday to make the cut, his first this year from four outings. From the outcomes, one thing is sure: Woodland’s two playing mates won’t be teeing it off alongside him for the third round. 

Did Tiger Woods start a chain reaction unwillingly?

The quiet Friday at the Riviera Country Club suddenly turned on its head with Woods’s withdrawal. Many big names were already sweating it out at the cutline. While Max Homa and Rory McIlroy surged ahead—Homa carded 6-under 65 to tie for 11, and McIlroy posted 5-under 66 in a bogey-free second round—Justin Thomas, Tiger Woods’s playing mate, carded 2-over 73 to miss the cut. 

Read More: Tiger Woods’s Stats: Riviera’s Past Horrors Explored

In an episode of late drama, Jordan Spieth was also disqualified from the event despite making the cut. Spieth signed 3 on the fourth hole, whereas he actually took four strokes. The third round will start at 10.20 AM EST. 

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