Tiger Woods withdraws from Genesis Invitational for health reasons

LOS ANGELES — Tiger Woods had to withdraw from the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club on Friday for what his representative described as "flu-like" symptoms.

Woods, 48, who was playing his first official PGA Tour event since having to withdraw after two rounds of last year’s Masters, played six holes in the second round and hit a strong tee shot on the par-4 seventh at Riviera. At that point, officials called for assistance and Woods boarded a cart and was taken to the clubhouse by a rules official.

In a brief interview with PGA Tour communications officials, TGR Senior Vice President Rob McNamara said that Woods "started feeling some flu-like symptoms last night. Woke up this morning, they were worse than the night previous. He had a little bit of a fever ... and was better during the warm-up. But then when he got out there and was walking and playing, he started feeling dizzy."

McNamara said that doctors determined that Woods may have the flu and was dehydrated. He was treated with IV fluids, McNamara said, and "he's doing much, much better. He'll be released on his own here soon."

At 3:45 p.m., Woods emerged from the cllubhouse and was driven away in a courtesy car.

An ambulance and fire engine were parked in front of the Riviera clubhouse after Woods' WD, causing a large group of media to gather there. But the emergency vehicles eventually departed at approximately 2:40 p.m. PT without a patient.

At the time of his WD, Woods was one over par for his round and two over for the tournament. He was outside the bubble in terms of making the cut, which came at one over par.

Gary Woodland, who was grouped with Woods alongside Justin Thomas, said he thought Woods "wasn't himself" even before the round started. "It sucks," Woodland said. "Obviously, everything's better with him there and for him for his first tournament back and he couldn't come out and finish the way he wanted to, that sucks for all of us."

The withdrawal continued a string of health-related obstacles to Woods continuing his playing career. He has entered just six tournaments since his February 2021 car accident, and now three of them resulted in withdrawals—the 2022 PGA Championship, 2023 Masters and now 2024 Genesis. Riviera was his first start since Augusta last April, after which he underwent surgery to fuse his right ankle.