Tiger Woods falls out of contention with three bogeys in the front nine on the final day of the Genesis Invitational – as the 15-time major champ draws a huge crowd after returning from injury
Tiger Woods drifted down the leaderboard on the final day of the Genesis Invitational with three bogeys in the front nine of his round.
The 15-time major champion wowed the crowds at Los Angeles’ Riviera Country Club over four days of competition, with his performance far exceeding expectations after a seven-month layoff through injury.
But Sunday seemed a step too far for the legendary golfer, although he recorded a birdie on the first hole to drive the watching fans mad.
Woods bogeyed fifth, eighth and ninth to move into the back nine at one under par, two over for his final round.
That left him tied 42nd in the standings – still a remarkable feat given his injury woes and lack of competitive golf over the past year.
Tiger Woods slaved away in the early stages of his final round at the Genesis Invitational Sunday
Huge crowds followed Woods’ group around the course in Pacific Palisades, California
Woods bogeyed three holes on the front nine after initially starting his round with a birdie
The American played alongside Englishman Tyrrell Hatton and fellow countryman Kramer Hickok on Sunday.
Following the Genesis Invitational, Woods is hoping to head to the Players’ Championship at TPC Sawgrass next month before returning to Augusta for the first major of the year – The Masters.
Woods only managed nine laps in 2022 due to complications related to the limb-threatening injuries he sustained in his car accident the previous year.
Most recently, this meant the 47-year-old had to withdraw from the Hero World Challenge in December due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot. However, later in the month he played with his son Charlie in the two-round PNC Championship, where players are allowed to use strollers.
The 15-time Major winner found the sand on the third hole before saving par
Popular Brit Tyrrell Hatton (pictured) played alongside Woods in Sunday’s final round
“Plantar fasciitis isn’t fun and now I can really recover and heal and progress because there are so many good things I’ve been able to do physically to be able to hit the golf ball and practice and do everything while still standing,” he said Woods on December 18 on the issue.
“But I haven’t been able to get from point A to point B and will obviously work on it.”
Woods is the tournament host of the long-running event at Riviera Country Club, where he made his PGA Tour debut in 1992 as a 16-year-old amateur but never won it as a pro.
He won’t change that stat this weekend, but his performance was still very impressive.