None of us can ever recall Tiger Woods producing a shank but then this is what the 15-time major champion admits could be the scenario as he strives this year to keep to a ‘one tournament a month’ playing schedule.
Woods spoiled a decent first PGA Tour counting round since withdrawing ahead of last April’s third round at the Masters in shanking his 8-iron shot into the final green on day of the Genesis Invitational on the host Riviera course in suburban Santa Monica.
His second shot travelled all of just 71-yards, well right of the fairway on route to a bogey ‘5’ and a score of a one-over-par 72 to hand him a share of 49th place in the $US 20m ‘Signature’ series event.
5-under thru 7 @WillZalatoris joins the leaders. pic.twitter.com/yRgxmpdwqy
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 15, 2024
While Woods looked fine in walking the famed ‘Hollywood legends’ course he soon commanded news headlines in complaining of back spasms over the closing few holes, and something we’ve heard Woods talk about often since the events two days following the 2019 Genesis sponsored tournament.
“Well, my back was spasming the last couple holes and it was locking up”, he said. “I came down and it didn’t move and I presented the hosel first and shanked it.
“I’ve not had any during competition, but yes, at home”.
Indeed, Woods was bending over stretching his back in speaking with the media post his round.
Woods was also quizzed if he could remember the last time he produced a shank.
“It’s been a while, definitely been a while,” he said. “Other than trying to hit flop shots and other kind of weird shots around the greens, not from the position I was at”.
Woods revealed at last December’s Hero World Challenge, and given his back is fused, that he expects to play possibly one event a month this season though that could now be less a 2024 playing schedule after what we observed over the last few holes.
“I don’t know, I don’t know what that looks like”, when reminded over his ‘once a month’ comments.
“I’m hoping that’s the case, hoping that I play that much. As far as the physical ups and downs, that’s just part of my body, that’s part of what it is. That’s all right, I accept it and accept the challenges.
“It means I’m going to be rusty and I have to do a better job at home prepping. We need to do a better job with lifting and treating and continuation of rehab protocols, all those things. I just haven’t done it in a while”,
Woods was not shy of some of that Woods golfing magic including commencing with an opening hole birdie and a great 90-foot flop shot from the rough to just four feet to save par at the 13th.
