Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the PGA Championship, after carding one of his worst rounds ever at a Major - a nine-over 79.
Woods appeared dejected and in pain, as he trudged off the 18th green at Southern Hill Country Club at Tulsa Oklahoma. Asked if he would be back for Sunday's fourth round, Woods was non-committal, but officially announced his withdrawal about five hours after his finish.
"Tiger Woods has withdrawn after Round 3 from the 2022 PGA Championship," tweeted the PGA Tour.
Playing his second event in a comeback from a career-threatening car crash, just making the cut at Southern Hills Country Club was something to celebrate, but for Woods and his thousands of fans, there was precious little to cheer - although they did every shot.
The ninth pair out on a cold, rainy day, reality quickly struck home, with any glimmer of a miracle charge dimmed, as the bogeys piled up, Woods hobbling away a massive 21 shots behind leader Will Zalatoris, who had yet to tee off.
The bravado Woods displayed on Saturday (NZ time) had completely vanished, as the 15-time Major winner headed for treatment, non-committal when asked if he would be physically able to play the final round.
"I'm sore, I know that is for a fact," said Woods. "We'll do some work and see how it goes."
Sitting 12 off the pace at the start of play, the task facing Woods already looked impossible, but the 46-year-old American has made a career of defying the odds, including his latest comeback from the accident 15 months ago that nearly cost him his right leg.
A bogey at the second was followed by a triple-bogey at the par-three sixth, after finding water off the tee, as his slide picked up speed with another dropped shot at seven. After taking his third bogey at the ninth, a dejected Woods gave a half-hearted wave to the adoring gallery and trudged off to the 10th tee.
There would be no relief on the back nine, as troubles followed him through the turn with four consecutive bogeys.
The highlight of the day came at the par-four 15th, where Woods picked up his only birdie.
"I couldn't get off the bogey train there - or other train too," said Woods. "As I said, I just didn't do anything right.
"I didn't hit many good shots. Consequently I ended up with a pretty high score."
Reuters
