LOUISVILLE - Tiger Woods' latest injury 'doesn't bode well right now' for his chances to play in the Ryder Cup, U.S. captain Tom Watson said Monday.
A day after withdrawing after eight holes in the last round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational with a bad back, Tiger Woods doesn't know if he'll be playing in this week's PGA Championship.
Woods flew back Sunday afternoon to his South Florida home instead of heading to Valhalla Golf Club for the year's last major championship after he aggravated his back and was forced to withdraw.
Woods is at his home resting.
'He has to rest and get treatment and assess later,' said Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, in a text. 'Pointless to make that decision (on playing) now without proper time to give him the best chance.'
Steinberg said there would be no further update Monday. Perhaps not even an update on Tuesday.
Woods, who had back surgery March 31, was playing in his third tournament since returning to competitive golf.
On the second hole Sunday on the South Course, where he has won a record eight times, Woods said he 'jarred' his back when he fell back into a bunker and landed with a thud after hitting a shot from an awkward stance.
Woods played on but hit some shocking shots, including leaving his tee shot on the 200-yard par-3 fifth 65 yards short.
He withdrew after hitting his tee shot on the ninth 300 yards. He doubled over after the swing and minutes later was in pain changing his shoes. VIDEO: 5 PLAYERS TO WATCH AT PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Watson told SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio he watched Woods play the final round on TV.
'Tiger would be a great addition to our team,' Watson said. 'As I've said all along, I would pick Tiger Woods if he's healthy and playing well. This doesn't bode well right now. I just hope that maybe it's just an isolated problem that he can turn around and possibly play this week at the PGA.
' ... I watched him play almost the entire front nine. And the shot he had at 5 ... I said, 'Something's wrong with Tiger.' You don't hit that terrible a shot ever - ever. And then, of course, No. 9, he just couldn't go any farther. It concerns me because that's an injury that seems like he tried to address before and he's come back from that particular injury.'
Watson sent Woods a text.
'I hope you get well soon,' it read.
If Woods does not play this week, his last chance to make the FedExCup Playoffs would be if he were to play in and then win next week's Wyndham Championship, where he has never played.
If he misses the FedExCup Playoffs, he could conceivably go seven weeks before hitting his next golf shot in competition. That is, if Watson makes him one of his three captain's picks for the biennial match play tussle with Europe Sept. 26-28 at Gleneagles in Scotland. PHOTO GALLERY: This Week at the PGA Championship
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