Woods forced to quit as old injuries flare up

US TOUR NEWS:TIGER WOODS' latest comeback lasted just nine holes and 42 shots at Sawgrass yesterday – and he knew he was in trouble from his very first hit.

Out for a month after suffering more knee and Achilles problems at the US Masters, Woods had slumped into joint last place when he decided to quit golf's richest event.

It was a familiar scene. In his last competitive round on the course a year ago the former world number one managed only six holes before pulling out with a neck injury.

After four weeks' rest this time Woods started practising again only on Monday, but although doctors told him he was good to go in the €9.5 million event he felt something with his opening drive.

"The knee acted up and then the Achilles followed after that and then the calf started cramping up," he said after an outward half that was only one stroke off his worst-ever on the USPGA Tour.

"Everything started getting tight, so it's just a whole chain reaction."

He bogeyed the first, fifth and long ninth, but it was on the 384-yard fourth that things went horribly wrong. After pitching into the water he chipped in as well and had to hole from just under 18 feet to avoid a quadruple bogey eight.

Asked if he feared he was back to square one with the injuries, the limping Woods — without a victory for 18 months and a major for nearly three years — replied: "I don't know. Give me a few days to see what the docs say.

"I'm having a hard time walking. It felt fine during the warm-up and then as I played it progressively got worse.

"I'm surprised. The treatment's been good and it's been getting better. It just wasn't enough.

"On the first I was just trying to draw that ball out there just a little bit. I pushed forward and it just didn't feel good."

The 35-year-old, who has just over a month to get fit for the US Open, admitted it "probably" would have been wise to come off sooner.

"It's hard to put muscle pressure on it right now, so it's a bit of a struggle."

Woods suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and a strained left Achilles tendon while hitting an awkward shot during the third round of The Masters.