Five-time Masters winning Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the final day’s play at Augusta National
Woods advised officials ahead of the re-start to the third round that he will not be teeing-up, and no doubt not disliking the thought in staring at playing 29 holes in the rain-affected 87th hosting of the Masters.
When play was suspended near 3pm Saturday due continuing rain, a clearly struggling Woods had dropped to last place among those who made the cut, and lying at nine-over-par.
Woods tweeted the following:
I am disappointed to have to WD this morning due to reaggravating my plantar fasciitis. Thank you to the fans and to @TheMasters who have shown me so much love and support. Good luck to the players today!
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 9, 2023
Even in limping since his opening tee shot on Thursday, Woods bravely made the cut at three-over but in starting his third round from the 10th hole, he slumped to six-over through seven holes that included finding the water at the 14th and 16th holes in posting double bogeys on Nos. 14-16.
Thoughts then of returning for a third round restart and then having to return to the 10th for a final 18 holes was clearly too much for Woods to consider, and a decision that the golf world can appreciate.
WD now appearing beside the name Tiger Woods
However, it is outrageous to suggest Woods’ decision to withdraw will lead to him retiring.
Checking the official Masters scoreboard Woods’ name is now among the ‘WDs’ at the tail of the field, and with no reference to any third round scores.
Woods had also withdrawn from last year’s PGA Championship on Saturday after the third round.
His only other WD in a major came as an amateur in the 1995 U.S. Open when a 19-year-old Woods sprained his wrist at Shinnecock Hills in New York. An 82-time winner on the PGA Tour, Woods has withdrawn from 11 events over 372 starts.
