Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods, contending with back spasms, records a score of 72 at the Genesis Invitational

In Pacific Palisades, California, during Thursday's opening round of the Genesis Invitational, a reporter hesitated to bring up the dreaded term in golf when questioning Tiger Woods about his second-to-last swing. However, Woods himself openly admitted, "Oh, definitely, I shanked it."



This marked Woods' 2024 season debut and his first official PGA Tour event since the Masters in April. He revealed that he was dealing with back spasms in the final holes at Riviera Country Club. On the 18th fairway, attempting an 8-iron shot from the right side, Woods' back locked up, causing the ball to veer right into a eucalyptus tree and behind four others.



Despite the setback, Woods managed to get his third shot onto the green and two-putted for a bogey, concluding his round at 1-over 72. He was tied for 49th, eight shots behind the first-round leader, Patrick Cantlay.



Facing the prospect of missing the 36-hole cut, Woods acknowledged the inconsistency in his game during the round. He had five birdies and six bogeys, describing it as "a lot of good and a lot of indifferent." The round highlighted his first competitive play since finishing 18th in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in December.



Woods, 48, who underwent fusion surgery in April to address post-traumatic arthritis from a car wreck near Riviera Country Club in February 2021, expressed some soreness in his leg after the round. Acknowledging his limited competitive play, he emphasized the need for better preparation and rehab protocols in the future.