Stiff neck knocks Tiger Woods out of Palmer Invitational in Orlando

By Rahul Banerji

Eight-time winner Tiger Woods has withdrawn from this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida, with a neck strain.

The 43-year-old said on Twitter that while his lower back was “fine” after fusion surgery, a neck strain had derailed his plans, marking his first pullout since the 2017 Dubai Desert Classic.

Woods’ announcement added that he had been forced out of contention despite attempts to have the troubled area treated but he hoped to be back for the Players Championship later in the month.

First withdrawal

Tiger has won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2013 and this edition of the event is the first scheduled tournament he will be missing since returning from a fourth back surgery.

According to the PGA Tour website, the 80-time Tour titleist said he was hopeful of playing next week at TPC Sawgrass where he is a two-time winner.

“Unfortunately due to a neck strain that I’ve had for a few weeks, I’m forced to withdraw from the API,” Woods tweeted.

“I’ve been receiving treatment, but it hasn’t improved enough to play. My lower back is fine, and I have no long-term concerns, and I hope to be ready for The Players.

“I’d like to send my regrets to the Palmer family and the Orlando fans. Its connection to Arnold makes it one of my favorite tournaments and I’m disappointed to miss it.”

Soon after his comeback from back surgery last season, Tiger was on the charge on the final day of the API tournament but sent a ball out of bounds during his final nine holes to eventually end up in a share of fifth place.

So far in the season, Tiger Woods has finished inside the top 20 in all his three starts, most recently a tied tenth place at the WGC–Mexico Championship. Last year he played 19 tournaments, topping his comeback with the Tour Championship win, his 80^th Tour title.

Tour renames rookie award after Palmer

Meanwhile, the PGA Tour has also announced that the annual rookie of the year award would now be called the Arnold Palmer Award. It was previously set aside for the year’s top money winner on the Tour.

The first such award went to Robert Gamez in 1990, and he is in the 123-strong entry list for the tournament’s third installment since Palmer’s death in 2016.

“A thumbs-up, a wink, a carefully signed autograph, a thank you – simple gestures like these passed on by Mr. Palmer to countless young players helped shape their character, on and off the golf course,” said Tour commissioner Jay Monahan in a release.

“The Arnold Palmer Award will now reflect those contributions in honoring the Tour’s most outstanding rookie.”

A total of 11 former rookie of the year winners are in the field this week in Orlando, Rickie Fowler (2010), Jordan Spieth (2013), Daniel Berger (2015), Xander Schauffele (2017) and Aaron Wise (2018).

Also read: Bend it like Tiger: Woods breaks Internet with one bunker shot