Tiger Woods Injury Update: Back Spasms, Sore Legs Ruin Long-Awaited PGA Tour Return

Tiger Woods doesn’t hide the fact that he shanked it in the 18th. A reporter avoided using the dreaded five-letter word in the press conference. But Woods, cutting him short, replied, “Oh, definitely, I shanked it.” What transpired on the Par 4 18th when his approach shot traveled just 71 yards, landing on the right side along the eucalyptus tree lines?

The 15-time Major winner said he is still trying to adapt after the surgery, but his back is not cooperating. “Well, my back was spasming the last couple of holes and it was locking up. I came down and it didn’t move and I … shanked it.” Woods was visibly frustrated and baffled after the shank.

When was the last time that happened? The former World No. 1 had a hard time remembering it. “It’s been a while, definitely been a while. Other than trying to hit flop shots and other kind of weird shots around the greens, not from the position I was at.”

Tiger Woods also opened up about how his body moved during the first round. The 48-year-old had to undergo ankle surgery last year—a lingering after effect of the near-fatal car crash in 2021. Woods has been open about the physical problems post-injury. His ankle doesn’t rotate the way he wants it to, the 48-year-old said in December. Quizzed on the matter this time, Woods added, “Foot’s good. Leg’s a little bit sore, things are a little bit sore, but that’s to be expected. That’s nothing.”

The 82-time PGA Tour winner, though, hoped to bounce back stronger in the second round. Nevertheless, his comments showed that he is still on a learning curve with his own body and game. How has he performed in his first official PGA Tour event after limping out of the Masters last April?

A mixed bag of birdies and bogeys for Tiger Woods

Woods opened his round with 34 in the front nine. The former World No. 1 carded five birdies and six bogeys in the first round and saved par seven times. The good news was that the veteran golfer still bombed 300-yard drives. His longest drive was 332 yards. But the shank on the 18th meant he couldn’t break par in the first round.

Read More: Tiger Woods Sneaks In Snacks at Genesis – Is He Allowed to Do So?

Woods tied for 49 on the leaderboard after the first round at the Genesis Invitational, shooting 1-over 72. Interestingly, Tiger Woods made his PGA Tour debut at the Riviera Country Club in 1992. It is also a course where he has failed to score a victory in his nearly three-decade-long career.