Turns out Tiger Woods will not star on our TV screens the next three weekends.
Set to return to competition this week at the Hero World Challenge, an event his foundation hosts, Woods tweeted a statement Monday saying he developed plantar fasciitis in his right foot in preparation for the event. After consulting with doctors, Woods said he was withdrawing. It was supposed to be Woods’ first start since he missed the cut at the Open Championship in July.
Woods said he will focus more on his hosting duties this week, as the foot issue has made it too difficult to walk. The 15-time major winner said previously he would not use a cart at this week’s event, despite it not being an official PGA Tour event.
In his statement, Woods said he still planned on playing in next week’s The Match VI with Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth and the following week’s PNC Championship with his son Charlie. Woods rode a cart at the PNC last year, which was his first appearance on the golf course since a major car crash in February 2021 left him with severe injuries to his right lower leg. He also rode a cart in his last appearance in The Match series in 2020.
Woods did not compete at the Hero a year ago, but he did put on a show on the driving range during Sunday’s final round and eventually made his return at the PNC later that month.
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Woods has played just three times in 2022, making a sooner-than-expected return to the Masters in April where he made the cut and finished 47th. He then withdrew after the third round at the PGA Championship, skipped the U.S. Open and missed the cut at the Open Championship.
The 82-time PGA Tour winner was last spotted with clubs in hand on the golf course last month during the TGR Junior Invitational at the Pebble Beach par-3 course he recently redesigned. He also was photographed earlier this month caddying for Charlie in junior golf tournaments, although he was driving a cart and not carrying the bag.
Woods, who is scheduled to speak with the media on Tuesday morning at Albany in the Bahamas, was replaced in the Hero field by Sepp Straka.