‘I’m Going to Be Rusty’: Tiger Woods Forced to Accept Harsh Reality After Terrible Shank at Riviera

Tiger Woods feels his back is to blame for the rusty game he had at the Genesis Invitational. Speaking at the press conference after the first round at Riviera, the 15-time Major winner said, “I’m going to be rusty and I have to do a better job at home prepping. We need to do a better job with lifting and treating and continuation of rehab protocols, all those things. I just haven’t done it in a while.” 

The 48-year-old carded 1-over 72 in the first round of the Genesis Invitational, making six bogeys and five birdies. Woods also went back to his earlier comment that he would play once a month this year. Asked if he feels he would have to deal with little problems every time he tees up, Tiger Woods said, “I don’t know, I don’t know what that looks like. I’m hoping that’s the case, hoping that I play that much.”

This was his first competitive outing since limping out of the Masters last year. The Hall of Famer went through ankle surgery following the Augusta exit. Tiger Woods added, “As far as the physical ups and downs, that’s just part of my body, that’s part of what it is. That’s all right, I accept it and accept the challenges.” Last December, when asked where he feels the most pain, the veteran golfer had a one-word answer. “Everywhere.”

Woods also said he wasn’t sharp. Blaming a lack of practice for that, the 15-time Major winner added, “I was getting better each and every day. But then again, I haven’t played in a while again. That’s kind of the frustrating part of it.” That frustration was never more visible than the 18th hole. 

Tiger Woods made a shank to end his round

Woods’s 295-yard drive on the final hole ended up in the right place but not his approach after that. The ball traveled toward the right along the trees after the 82-time PGA Tour winner hit his approach from 176 yards. That resulted in a two-putt bogey eventually. Referring to it later, a journalist didn’t want to name the shot that must not be named. 

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But Woods cut them short.

“Oh, definitely, I shanked it,” said the 48-year-old. “My back was spasming the last couple holes and it was locking up.” There is some work to do for Tiger Woods. The Genesis Invitational, unlike the first two Signature events, will have a 36-hole cut. Only the top 50 and ties and golfers within ten shots of the leader will advance to the final two rounds.

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