Woods withdraws in Dubai due to back spasms
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Tiger Woods withdrew from the Dubai Desert Classic on Friday with back spasms after shooting an opening-round 77 a day earlier, marking another frustrating start to his return to golf from a lengthy injury layoff.
Woods’ manager, Mark Steinberg, said Woods had back spasms on Thursday night after dinner.
“He went into a spasm in his lower back fairly late last night . . . got treatment done early this morning for 3 1/2 hours, but can’t get it out,” Steinberg said. “He says it’s not the nerve, but back spasm, and he can’t get the spasms to calm down. He can move around, but he can’t make a full rotation in his swing.”
Woods made a comeback after multiple back surgeries after a 16-month layoff, and was expected to play four times in five weeks, starting from last week’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, where he missed the cut.
The European Tour, without giving a reason, announced his withdrawal on Friday before Woods began his second round.
After his opening round, Woods said: “I wasn’t in pain at all . . . I was just trying to hit shots and I wasn’t doing a very good job.”
DeLaet, Hadwin make cut at Phoenix Open, Thomas bows out
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Brendan Steele and Byeong Hun An led the way at golf’s biggest party, Phil Mickelson had a classic Lefty adventure, and Justin Thomas cooled off in the desert.
An ran in a 35-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th Friday for his second straight 5-under 66 and a share of the Phoenix Open lead. Steele had a 67 to match An at 10-under 132 at TPC Scottsdale.
Mickelson bogeyed the final two holes for a 70 that left him six strokes back, while playing partner Thomas had a 73 to miss the cut by a stroke. Thomas was coming off a twoweek break after sweeping the Hawaii events — and shooting 59 at Waialae — for his second and third victories of the season.
Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama was a stroke back at 9 under along with firstround leader Matt Kuchar, Martin Laird and Sung Kang.
Graham DeLaet (69) of Weyburn, Sask., is tied for 11th at 6-under par, while Adam Hadwin (66) of Abbotsford jumped up the leaderboard and into a tie at 21st at 5 under.