Tiger Woods’ return will have to wait. We won’t see him this week.
Woods announced on Monday afternoon that he will not participate in the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines, La Jolla, California. The tournament, which was moved from the Riviera Country Club due to the recent Los Angeles fire, was set to be Woods’ first official competition on the PGA Tour since last summer’s Open Championship and since his last back surgery.
The announcement of his participation was already a surprise. He himself had admitted that his game was far from its best, but he wanted to do it in tribute to his mother, who passed away last week. In the end, it has been quite the opposite. Woods has withdrawn, stating that “I am not ready” following the death of his mother, Kultida, at the age of 80 last Tuesday.
“I had planned to play this week, but I am not ready,” says Woods’ full statement. “I did everything I could to prepare, knowing that it is what my mother would have wanted, but I am still processing her loss. Thank you to everyone who has reached out. I hope to be at Torrey by the end of the week and appreciate the continued kindness since my mother’s passing”.
