It’s a never before seen happening for Tiger Woods, as for the first time in his professional career, he will miss all four major championships in one season.
The PGA of America announced earlier today (July 19, 2016) that Woods will not be a part of the leaderboard during next week’s PGA Championship. The famed tournament is being held at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield Township, N.J.
“We have been in contact with Tiger’s agent, Mark Steinberg, and he informed us today that our four-time PGA champion will be unable to join us at Baltusrol Golf Club next week for the 98th PGA Championship,” the PGA of America said in a statement.
The former number one world golfer has not played a competitive round since undergoing two surgeries last fall season, specifically, back operations.
Tiger Fans across the world are shocked at this latest news. However with the many precarious situations that have faced Woods during his recent tournaments, the decision to withdraw from the PGA Championship comes off more reasonable. In May, it is remembered how he vividly dunked three consecutive wedge shots into the water during the Quicken Loans National media day. The, just a short month later, on the Quicken Loans broadcast, Woods was reluctant to divulge whether or not he would even play competitively during the rest of the year.
“I don’t know,” Woods said on CBS. “I want to play; put it that way. I want to play. I don’t know if I will, but I do want to. But I’m trying. I’m trying each and every day. I’m doing my workouts. … I’m working my tail off.”
So now, although, it seems for sure that he will be out for the rest of the 2015-2016 season, however, according to Golfweek.com, the Golf Channel sent corresponded to Tiger Woods’ Manager Mark Steinberg, who emailed this response back:
“(Tiger’s) continuing to make progress, but simply not ready for PGA. Will not play in the ’15/’16 season and will continue to rehab and work hard to then assess when he starts play for the ’16/’17 season.”
Now at 40-years old, Woods has a long string of wins under his belt. He has won 79 PGA titles, including 14 major championships, ranking second all-time in both categories. But, now, the former stellar golfer hasn’t competed on Tour since August (during the Wyndham Championship, in which he tied for 10th). He finished fourth at the 2005 PGA Championship, the last time the major visited Baltusrol.
With the news of withdrawal, Woods is adding his eighth time for missing a major since the 2011 U.S. Open. The 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines was the last time that he won one of golf’s four biggest titles, outlasting Rocco Mediate in a 19-hole Monday playoff, only for Woods to discover afterwards that he had a broken leg
