Tiger Woods has sent a thank you message to his fans after revealing he was forced to withdraw from the US Masters after reaggravating his plantar fasciitis.
Woods withdrew from the Masters on Sunday night (AEDT) just before he was due to return to the course to finish his third round.
The 15-time major winner had been in clear discomfort during the tournament and looked physically spent when play was halted on Sunday morning (AEDT) due to inclement weather.
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Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain, caused by inflammation of tissue that runs across the bottom of each foot, connecting the heel bone to the toes.
Woods has struggled with injury in recent years, having barely played due to a car crash two years ago which he was fortunate to survive.
He was nine under when play was halted during the third round, running last among the players who had made the cut.
“I am disappointed to have to WD this morning due to reaggravating my plantar fasciitis,” Woods wrote on social media.
“Thank you to the fans and to @TheMasters who have shown me so much love and support. Good luck to the players today!”
SCOTT DUNKS TWO IN WATER
Adam Scott has dunked two balls in the water at the dreaded par five 15th and walked off with a devastating triple bogey to end his minute hopes of a final day surge at the US Masters.
Scott was already 13 shots behind leader Brooks Koepka but walked off the 15th a whopping 16 shots in arrears after making two costly blunders in the space of a few minutes.
After hitting a sensational drive, Scott’s second shot spun back into the water protecting the front of the green. Scott took a penalty drop but remarkably found the water again.
He was forced to take another penalty drop and eventually walked off with a triple bogey eight. Compatriot and playing partner Cameron Smith (even) also found the water but produced a miraculous up and down to walk off the 15th green with par, staying at even for the tournament.
Koepka (-13) continues to lead the way at the top of the leaderboard, two shots clear of Spaniard Jon Rahm (-11).
TIGER WOODS WITHDRAWS FROM MASTERS
Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the US Masters.
Woods’ withdrawal was confirmed in an email from the chairman of the competition committee on Sunday night (AEDT).
Woods was running last when the third round of the tournament was brought to a premature halt due to inclement weather.
The former world No.1 and 15-time major winner had laboured to make the cut and looked in obvious discomfort as he battled through seven holes in wet and cold conditions.
“Due to injury, Tiger Woods has officially withdrawn from the Masters after completing seven holes of his third round,” Competition Committee chairman James B Hyeler Jr said.
Woods had earlier equaled the record of Fred Couples and Gary Player by making the cut for the 23rd consecutive time at Augusta National.
It was another moment in time for the 15-timer major winner. No doubt, it was bittersweet given he was in obvious discomfort.
Woods barely had time to digest the significance before reality set in. The conditions were never going to help Woods, whose body these days is held together by titanium and sticky tape. Rain and wind are the enemy.
Still, it was still a shock to look at the scoreboard when play was brought to a halt midway through the third round and see Woods in 54th place.
In other words, dead last. Woods was nine over. Through seven holes in his third round, Woods had shot six over including two double bogeys, on both occasions dumping the ball in the water.
He looked in obvious pain. His swing was stiff. His leg, injured in a car crash two years ago, had tormented him throughout the tournament.
The obvious question now will be whether Woods has played the tournament for the last time given the ongoing battle he confronts to get on the golf course.
AUSSIES NEED MIRACLE IN EXTENDED FINAL DAY
When the third round of the Masters was called to a halt due to inclement weather on Sunday morning (AEDT), Brooks Koepka was four shots clear of the field.
While much of the field must still complete their third rounds heading into the final day of the tournament, organisers must already have begun sizing Koepka (13-under par) up for the presentation ceremony on Monday morning (AEDT).
Jason Day (four under par) remains Australia’s best chance, albeit only a very slim one after a shocking day for his compatriots.
Cameron Smith (-1) couldn’t get any momentum going as his putter ran cold.
Adam Scott’s putter wasn’t so much cold as frozen as he made four bogeys before officials called a halt to proceedings with five holes remaining in his third round.
Senior Sports Writer
