Tiger Woods Pulls Out of Players Championship Ahead of Masters Defence

Golfing legend Tiger Woods has pulled out of the Player Championship next week due to a back injury that has kept him out of the game for almost a month.

The 15-time major winner is suffering stiffness in his back and will not take part in the tournament that is set to start on March 12 at Sawgrass in Florida. 

“It was not an easy decision, but I will not be attending the Players Championship. I have to listen to my body and properly rest when needed. My back is simply just not ready for play next week. I’m sad to miss one of the best events of the season, OUR Championship”. Woods stated.

The Players Championship is traditionally considered the warm-up for the Masters, the first major of the golfing calendar, and it’s a tournament that Woods clearly loves.

The 44-year-old was the surprise winner in 2019, his fifth title, and will be among the big favorites to take the Green Jacket when play tees off on April 9th.

2020 Masters Betting Odds from MyBookie

Rory McIlroy +600

Tiger Woods +1000

Jon Rahm +1100

Brooks Koepka +1200

Justin Rose +1400

Woods has had a number of injury issues over the course of his long prestigious career and has had four back surgeries and four knee operations over that period and one wonders just how much he has in the tank.

That said, if fit there are few players who can match Woods even after two decades at the top of the sport and what is all the more impressive is the way in which he has managed to continually bounce back from personal and professional setbacks.