Tiger Woods' back injury may not be as has as originally feared.
The former World number one, pulled out of the Dubai Desert Classic, ahead of his second round, citing "a bad back". Woods missed most of 2016 due to a back injury, and there were fears his injury may have been a recurrence of what caused him to undergo multiple back surgeries.
"He felt okay coming off the golf course yesterday so he wasn't in pain," Woods' agent Mark Steinberg told the European Tour's website after the withdrawal.
"I didn't see him at dinner but he said he was okay and went into a spasm in his lower back, fairly late last night after dinner."
"He says it's not the nerve pain that's kept him out for so long. He says it's a back spasm and he just can't get the spasm to calm down. So that's where we are."
Burj Al Arab moved the driving range! Amazing Dubai helicopter tour - check out the video. Can't wait for Dubai Desert Classic - TW #DDC17 pic.twitter.com/ZtCT7k6d4i
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) February 1, 2017
Woods was the headline attraction at the tournament, and was involved in numerous promotions for the event. Having won the tournament on two occasions, Woods hoped to become the first three-time winner of the Dubai Desert Classic."
"He feels terrible, talked to [playing partners] Matthew [Fitzpatrick] and Danny [Willett], he feels awful and he feels terrible for the tournament.", Steinberg added. He wanted to be here. He wants to be here. He just feels terrible that he can't, you know, finish it out today."
"The fact that he feels as though it's not the nerve pain, that's very encouraging for him."
Woods in due to play in the Genesis Open and the Honda Classic later this month. The 41-year-old's participation in those tournaments, along with The Masters in April is now in doubt.
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