Woods will skip Mexico World Golf Championship

Tiger Woods is among four players from the top 10 who are skipping the Mexico Championship next week, a World Golf Championships event with no cut and a $10.5 million purse.

Woods, who tied for 10th last year at Chapultepec Golf Club but was never in serious contention, did not offer a reason and was vague when asked about his schedule this week.

He shot 73 in the morning at the Genesis Invitational, where he is the tournament host.

“I've been so busy with this event and trying to deal with all the little things that I haven't really focused on next week,” Woods said.

Brooks Koepka is skipping for the second time in three years, the first time by choice. He had a wrist injury in 2018, and Koepka will be playing his hometown Honda Classic the following week.

Also skipping Mexico City from the top 10 are Justin Rose for the second straight year and Patrick Cantlay, who is having elective surgery on his septum next week to be ready for The Players Championship and the weeks leading to the Masters.

KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER RETIRES

Country House, the horse who won the Kentucky Derby in 2019 after the first horse over the finish line was disqualified, has been retired because of a foot ailment.

Blackwood Stables on Friday said Country House won't race again after being treated for laminitis in his right front foot. He finished second in the Derby as a 65-1 shot and was placed first when Maximum Security was disqualified. Significant steps were taken “I'm glad that he survived,” trainer Bill Mott said by phone. “Naturally, it's unfortunate something like that happens in the first place, but they worked hard and did the best they could to keep him alive and hopefully he'll be able to go on to a stud career.”

Instead, medical issues plagued Country House in the weeks and months after the race of his life. An illness knocked him out of the Preakness, and he developed a condition in his left front leg in June that required re-admittance to a renowned equine hospital.