Tiger Woods revealed that his nasty lower leg injury on the final hole of his return to the PGA Tour was due to a back spasm.
The 48-year-old made a bogey on the 18th hole and finished his opening round in California with a one-over-par lead.
Woods dropped the shot after hitting his second shot from the fairway into the trees, dropping his club shortly after contact.
The 15-time major winner recovered to escape with just a five, and afterwards Woods provided a worrying update on his groaning body.
The 48-year-old said his lower leg was the result of a back spasm. He revealed that his body was straining for the final three holes, his back was “locked” and wasn't turning as normal.
Tiger Woods suffered a nasty blow on the 18th hole of his opening round at the Genesis Invitational
The 48-year-old dropped his racket shortly after contact as the ball flew to the right
“I beat it,” Woods said with a smile. “My back tightened up in the last few holes and got stuck. I came down (on my follow-through) and it didn't move.'
Asked when he last hit a punch, he added: “It's definitely been a while.”
Woods has undergone a series of back surgeries, including one to fuse his lower spine. He was also involved in a near-fatal car accident after the Genesis Invitational in 2021.
Woods walked to the treatment table after his round and told the Golf Channel, “We have a few treatments coming up… to be ready for tomorrow.”
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Woods, 48, last played with his son Charlie in the father-son PNC Championship in December
Woods, the tournament host at Riviera Country Club, was playing his first round of an official PGA Tour event since last year's Masters – 10 months ago – after recovering from ankle surgery.
He made five birdies and five bogeys in the first 17 holes, never going under par or over 1. But then came the surprising shot from the 18th fairway that splashed into the trees to his right.
His recovery shot, a stinger around a large tree, gave him a 15-foot putt for par, but the ball missed left.
The Genesis Invitational is the third signature event of the 2024 season. This means the top 50 players and ties after 36 holes will make the cut.
Woods was tied for 55th at the end of the first round, eight shots behind leader Patrick Cantlay.