Ailing Woods withdraws in Dubai
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 Thursday night after dinner.
“Tiger Woods went into a spasm in his lower back fairly late last night ... got treatment done early this morning for 31⁄2 hours, but can’t get it out,” Steinberg said. “He says it’s not the nerve, but back spasms, 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 16month 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 Friday before Woods began his second round in Dubai.
PGA Tour: Brendan Steele and Byeong Hun An shared the lead after the second round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
An made a 35-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th for a 5-under 66, matching Steele at 10-under 132 at TPC Scottsdale. Steele had a 67.
Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama was a stroke back at 9 under along with first-round leader Matt Kuchar, Martin Laird and Sung Kang.
Madison’s Steve Stricker had a 70 and was five strokes back. Menomonee Falls native Mark Wilson (72) missed the cut.