Tiger Woods abruptly withdrew from the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines, saying he was nonetheless processing the demise of his mom.
Kultida Woods died unexpectedly final Tuesday on the age of 80.
“I deliberate to tee it up this week, however I’m simply not prepared,” Woods posted on social media. “I did my finest to organize, realizing it’s what my mother would have needed, however I’m nonetheless processing her loss.” Woods, the event host of the Genesis Invitational, stated he hoped to be at Torrey Pines later within the week, including that he appreciates “the continued kindness since my Mother’s passing.” It was a light shock when Woods, who has not performed on the PGA Tour for the reason that British Open final summer time at Royal Troon, entered the $20 million signature occasion. The tour created a particular exemption class for him within the signature occasions.
He was changed within the subject by Jake Knapp.
Woods had flown to Washington every week in the past for a gathering with President Donald Trump, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and Adam Scott, one of many participant administrators on the tour board. However then his aircraft left within the early hours of Tuesday again to Florida.
The tour is involving Trump to get an funding deal executed with Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, which backs rival LIV Golf.
Woods and his son, Charlie, performed golf with Trump on Sunday in Florida earlier than the president flew to New Orleans for the Tremendous Bowl.
Woods described his mom as a “pressure of nature” and the “biggest rock than any youngster may probably have.” His father nurtured his golf. His mom was a gradual affect, the one who informed him to put on crimson on Sunday as his energy coloration, who instilled a killer intuition and preached sportsmanship when it was over.
His father died in Could 2006. Woods returned to competitors a month later and missed the minimize within the U.S. Open, the primary time as a professional he had missed the minimize at a significant. Earl Woods had been battling most cancers.
His mom’s passing was extra sudden. She had been planning to fly to California this week for the event, which advantages Woods’ basis.
The Genesis Invitational needed to relocate from Riviera due to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. Torrey Pines has a particular connection to Woods, the general public course the place he gained the Junior World Championship in highschool, seven instances on the PGA Tour and most famously the 2008 U.S. Open when he had a double stress fracture in his left leg.
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Torrey Pines was his final high 10 on the PGA Tour in 2020, a 12 months earlier than Woods badly mangled his proper leg in a automotive crash on a coastal Los Angeles street. Since that restoration, Woods has solely performed within the majors, the Genesis Invitational and his vacation occasion within the Bahamas.