Inside Genesis Invitational Day 4: Tiger’s mysterious WD and Jordan Spieth’s costly error

Welcome to GOLF.com’s “Seen & Heard” video series, in which we give you an inside look at golf’s biggest events through the eyes and ears of our onsite crew. On deck this week: the 2024 Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. Let’s go!

ICYMI: Inside Genesis Invitational Day 1: Tiger Woods’ new brand and L.A. arrivals
ICYMI: Inside Genesis Invitational Day 2: Tiger’s new swing and Tom Kim’s recommendation

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It was a surreal scene at Riviera on Friday: midway through the afternoon — and Tiger Woods’ second round — Woods abruptly withdrew from the tournament after hitting his drive on the seventh hole.

Shortly afterward, two fire trucks and an ambulance arrived onsite, and GOLF’s Sean Zak was on the scene.

“We still don’t know a whole lot,” Zak said. “A lot of people standing around, a lot of people waiting around. But I think it’s a good sign if he’s not leaving in the ambulance.”

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Prior to the drama of the second round, Woods had posted a score of one-over on Thursday, and was hovering around the cutline — something that Zak noted was somewhat ironic, since Woods lobbied for his tournament to have a cut when other Signature Events generally do not.

Meanwhile, Zephyr Melton was chasing a player who did make the cut. Gary Woodland, who had brain surgery last year, is in the midst of rebuilding his swing, and Melton got an insider’s perspective on what that process has been like.

Despite the confusion and uncertainty from Woods’ sudden illness and departure from the course, the tournament must go on. Patrick Cantlay holds a five-shot lead with two rounds to play. Still, everyone will be on the alert for more on Woods’ condition.

“As with a lot of things Tiger Woods, they get blown up to an incredible degree,” Zak said. “Only one golfer in the world could make everyone stand at a service entrance for an hour, because he’s been through the roller-coaster with health stuff. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

And as if things weren’t crazy enough on Friday, Jordan Spieth was disqualified after signing an incorrect scorecard. Never a dull moment at Riviera.

Check out the entire episode of Seen and Heard from Friday at the Genesis Invitational below.

Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where she’s primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview series, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.

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