Tiger Woods’ WD sends Riviera Country Club into confused chaos

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Tiger Woods is ok, however for a very long time Friday afternoon, it positive didn’t appear to be it. 

Shortly after 1:30 p.m. native time, the temper on the Genesis Invitational turned from a stunning sunny day to a torrent of confusion and concern. Woods slid into the passenger seat of a golf cart being pushed by a guidelines official. Broadcaster Steve Sands spoke for everybody when he mentioned, “When Pete Dachisen, PGA Tour guidelines man, is carting you in, that often isn’t a great signal.”

Woods had been silently battling one thing. He was six holes into this second spherical and one over for the day, however clearly unwell. Gary Woodland mentioned that Woods “didn’t look proper” earlier than the spherical even started. He was quieter than regular. By the seventh gap, Woods was one over par, however “he appeared visibly uncomfortable,” in response to on-course reporter Aaron Oberholser. 

Woods and Dachisen made the lengthy, winding experience by means of the gallery and grounds as much as the Riviera Nation Membership clubhouse, which sits on a perch above the property. Once in a while, Woods held his head in his fingers. His new caddie, Lance Bennett, adopted alongside in a separate cart. Golf Channel had its lengthy digicam lenses monitoring each rotation of the membership automotive wheels. 

It might appear imbalanced that the withdrawal of a 48-year-old golfer can divert all the consideration of a event in his route, however there’s an excessive amount of historical past of Woods withdrawing resulting from again ache or nerve points, and an excessive amount of historical past along with his well being at this event particularly. It was precisely three years in the past Thursday that well being stored him out of this event (a spinal microdiscectomy within the hopes of being prepared for the ’21 Masters), and precisely three years in the past Monday that a major, single-car accident practically ended his life. 

Woods hit a shank on the 18th gap Thursday throughout his one-over opening 72, and admitted afterward to battling again spasms his previous couple of holes. It’d occurred to him at house now and again, however by no means in competitors. On Friday, a couple of observer questioned: may his again have flared up once more? 

Mark Dusbabek, one other PGA Tour Guidelines official, joined the published to make clear that Woods’ WD was not resulting from a again problem. Fairly, it was from an sickness. For a lot of the golf world, that was all we knew. He had gone from sporting a polo, to a polo and a vest, to a polo and a sweater within the California solar. Woods’ cart finally pulled as much as the participant help space and he disappeared into the clubhouse. After that, nothing. Nothing for 2 lengthy hours.

Woods’ caddie, Bennett, is new to Tiger World, the place cameras comply with his each motion, but when anybody knew what Woods was battling, it could be him. Bennett was seen working out of participant eating round 2 p.m. and into the participant companies middle. Bennett continued shifting about frantically, jogging out of the locker room into the car parking zone, then again into the locker room.

As Bennett scrambled down under, two fireplace vans arrived within the roundabout on the primary flooring of the clubhouse. An ambulance arrived shortly after the hearth vans. Safety employees started assessing every entrance of the clubhouse. The ambulance was initially slated to again as much as the participant locker room entrance, however now it had backed as much as Riviera’s worker entrance. Safety guards whispered into radios. The air of mystery was unattainable to disregard. 

Dachisen, who had dropped Woods off on the clubhouse, was requested for an replace. “He’s the place he must be,” he mentioned merely. Medical professionals entered and exited that worker entrance each couple of minutes, however there was no signal of Woods nor the assorted handlers that usually encompass him. No matter was ailing him was severe sufficient that he couldn’t end the ultimate 12 holes of his spherical. However not so severe that he was rushed off the property. However severe sufficient that medical professionals have been known as from off-site. 

All of it left the property in a daze of confusion. The place was Woods, precisely? Someplace within the bowels of the clubhouse. Did he throw up out on the course, like rumors started to unfold? Perhaps, perhaps not. Locker room attendants had given Woods some cough drops Friday morning. Was that by some means a comforting signal? 

As a result of the media middle is inside the Rivera clubhouse, officers blocked entry to the remainder of the constructing. Contained in the clubhouse foyer, safety cleared followers and enforced a strict perimeter. Outdoors, dozens of journalists, photographers and TV cameramen crowded that worker entrance, clicking their cameras each time the door opened. After half-hour, the door opened sufficient for an empty stretcher to be rolled out. The hearth vans and ambulance left. One other comforting signal, regardless of no replace.

In the meantime, two pairs of freshly cleaned golf sneakers sat neatly on the ground outdoors Woods’ locker. They’re branded SDR, for the footwear and attire firm he launched Monday, known as Sun Day Red, in partnership with TaylorMade. It’s a bumpy begin to 2024 for his golf sport and for his new model’s consciousness, too. Round 3:20, Match director Mike Antolini rushed Woods’ black bag into the locker room. An attendant began shining his sneakers.

Solely after two hours of awkward turmoil did official phrase lastly trickle out. Woods’ enterprise associate Rob McNamara clarified that his man had been battling flu-like signs since Thursday evening. No again points in any respect. Woods’ warmup went properly, and his fever appeared to wane, however as his spherical started he began to really feel dizzy and dehydrated. He obtained IV remedy within the clubhouse throughout these tense minutes when everybody else appeared on from the skin, and was cleared to depart on his personal round 3:40 p.m. 

That’s precisely what he did. Woods could also be a battered man, however he walked upright and tall by means of the locker room, smiling even, hugging a buddy as McNamara packed up his issues. A couple of minutes later, Crew Woods left the course in a crimson Genesis coupe and, to some extent, with an enormous exhale.