Tiger Woods faced challenges with back spasms during his opening round at The Genesis Invitational, resulting in a surprising shank on the 18th hole. Despite starting with an up-and-down birdie on the first hole, Woods struggled with back-to-back bogeys on the second and third. He managed to regain momentum with birdies on the fourth and sixth holes but faced setbacks with bogeys on the 10th, 12th, and 15th.
Woods’ round took a turn for the worse when he experienced a back spasm during his approach shot on the 18th, resulting in a shank that left him in an unfavorable position. Despite his struggles, Woods managed to salvage a bogey on the final hole, finishing the day with a 1-over-par 72.
Reflecting on his performance, Woods attributed the shank to his back spasms, stating that his back had been bothering him for the last few holes. He acknowledged the challenges of returning to competitive golf after a lengthy layoff, citing differences in adrenaline levels and yardages compared to practice rounds.
Although Woods expressed disappointment with his round, he remains determined to overcome his physical issues and looks forward to the challenge ahead. As he continues to receive treatment for his back spasms, Woods remains focused on improving his performance in the upcoming rounds of The Genesis Invitational.