2014 & '15 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Discussion Thread

[jbishop15]

From golfchannel.com

Quote:

A nagging back injury has derailed Tiger Woods in his quest to win at Bay Hill for a record ninth time.

Entering this week as the two-time defending champion at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Woods was slated to play the first two rounds alongside Harris English and Graeme McDowell . Instead, the 38-year-old tweeted late Tuesday that he will not play because of back spasms:

The injury is the same one that forced him to withdraw from the Honda Classic during the final round earlier this month, and Woods was clearly pained while completing play in his most recent start at Trump National Doral.

Woods called Palmer personally Tuesday afternoon to announce his withdrawal.

"I am certainly sorry that Tiger is not able to play. Quite obviously, we will miss having him here this week," said Palmer. "He called me to tell me that his back was still giving him a lot of trouble and he didn't feel he should play. I told him I understood and wished him well."

Woods' next anticipated start would be the Masters in three weeks, but a statement posted to his website explaining the withdrawal also raised the question of whether the injury will heal before the season's first major.

"It's too early to know about the Masters," Woods said. "I will continue to be evaluated and work closely with my doctors. I feel badly that I won't be able to play in this great tournament this week."

This marks just the second time that Woods has missed this event during his professional career. He also skipped it in 2010 during a lengthy absence from competition following his November 2009 car crash.

[jamo]

Damn.

[bubble]

I know many many serious fans of golf who only watch the majors and tournaments in which Tiger is playing (some only watch anything when he's contending).

+2 for me. I watch tiger even if he's down.

My first golf experience is on PS1 PGA tour tiger woods 1997 till 2005. then I had to try the real game.

[newtogolf]

This will hurt television ratings for sure, Arnie can't be too happy about it.  Seems his swing and Navy SEAL training has really taken it's toll on his body over the years.  I'd see this often as a personal trainer, a guy injures his knee and it changes the way he runs and does other compound exercises.  Eventually the modified movements put additional strain on other parts of the body and they start to break down.

I hope he heals up before the Masters but it looks like this could be a lost year for Tiger if he can't get his back to heal quickly.

[Golfingdad]

Damn.

Nah ... it's a good thing.  It simply means it's that much more likely that he'll be "healed" and fresh for Augusta.

Nobody really cares if he wins Bay Hill again, but if he were to win the Masters ...

[jamo]

Nah ... it's a good thing.  It simply means it's that much more likely that he'll be "healed" and fresh for Augusta. Nobody really cares if he wins Bay Hill again, but if he were to win the Masters ...

I was hoping he'd be well enough to play without risking re-injury. I guess I'd rather see him rest up though, you're right.

[ChrisP]

Nah ... it's a good thing.  It simply means it's that much more likely that he'll be "healed" and fresh for Augusta.

Nobody really cares if he wins Bay Hill again, but if he were to win the Masters ...

Didn't he get like 4 months rest in the offseason? I'm not sure what effect "rest" will have. I either think he's not getting the proper treatment or there's a serious problem back there that we don't know about.

My hope it's not something like Retief Goosen. He was a top-5 player in the world and then began suffering back problems around age 40. Since then, he's hardly been heard from. He had to have back surgery last year. Back issues can really hurt a career.

[David in FL]

Didn't he get like 4 months rest in the offseason?

Yeah, but there's no telling what other, ahem...... extracurricular activities he might have been engaged in that could have affected his back. He's not as young and limber as he once was. Just sayin' . :-$

[tmac20]

Yeah, but there's no telling what other, ahem...... extracurricular activities he might have been engaged in that could have affected his back. He's not as young and limber as he once was. Just sayin' . :-$

Skiing? :-P

[Rick Martin]

Along 9th hole fairway

6th green

David Lynn

Taylor Made Wedges

17th green

14th green

2nd green

6th green

[Hammer 4]

The Masters isn't that far off, so depending on the type of injury to Tigers back, he could be sidelined past the Masters. I just went to the Doctors for my back today...now I have more dang pills to take, plus PT..

For you younger guys, take care of yourself, if you don't, you Pay when you get older. Sorry for the OT.

[Rick Martin]

Foley and O'Hair.

[colin007]

Holy crap. What reason given, his back? @colin007 must be in tears!

Despondency is something I've grown accustomed to... sobs... sniffs...

[Rick Martin]

The Masters isn't that far off, so depending on the type of injury to Tigers back, he could be sidelined past the Masters. I just went to the Doctors for my back today...now I have more dang pills to take, plus PT..

For you younger guys, take care of yourself, if you don't, you Pay when you get older. Sorry for the OT.

Tiger seems to be in the best shape physically compared to most of the other players.  With the amount of conditioning and strengthening that he does, you'd think that he'd be less prone to back injury -

[Rick Martin]

[RonTheSavage]

Great photos, I cant help but notice how short Sean Foley is.........are his slacks hemmed on the bottom? :-P Shame about Tiger though, hopefully he's healed in time for Augusta but even if he is will he be as sharp as he's gonna need to be?

[Rick Martin]

Chad Campbell

John Senden -----winner last week Valspar

[Hammer 4]

Great photos, I cant help but notice how short Sean Foley is.........are his slacks hemmed on the bottom? Shame about Tiger though, hopefully he's healed in time for Augusta but even if he is will he be as sharp as he's gonna need to be?

No problem with his height, what about his 1930's haircut..?