Tiger Woods withdraws from 2023 Masters due to injury before play resumes Sunday
Tiger Woods said he was in "constant" pain during the 2023 Masters, but the pain became too much to bear – the five-time Masters champion withdrew from Augusta National before third-round play resumed on Sunday due to injury.
Woods finished the first 36 holes at 3-over at Augusta National on Saturday to make the cut for the 23rd consecutive time, tying the record shared by Gary Player and Fred Couples.
But he got off to a slow start to the third round on Saturday and was visibly in pain, laboring to walk in the cold and wet conditions. He had two bogeys and two double bogeys through seven holes, before play was suspended for the day at 3:15 p.m. ET due to a torrential downpour. He dropped to last place on Saturday at 6-over in the third round and 9-over for the tournament.
"I am disappointed to have to WD this morning due to reaggravating my plantar fasciitis," Woods wrote in a post on Twitter. "Thank you to the fans and to @TheMasters who have shown me so much love and support. Good luck to the players today!"
I am disappointed to have to WD this morning due to reaggravating my plantar fasciitis. Thank you to the fans and to @TheMasters who have shown me so much love and support. Good luck to the players today!
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 9, 2023
Play resumed on Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
MASTERS RECAP: Tiger Woods hits double bogeys in third round
It could mark Woods last appearance at Augusta National.
Before play commenced at the Masters on Thursday, Woods said the 2023 tournament could be his last: "I don't know how many more I have in me."
Woods returned to competition at the 2022 Masters for the first time since suffering severe injuries in a 2021 car crash that nearly cost him his leg. He made the cut and finished in 47th place. He also made the cut in the PGA Championship, only to withdraw after the third round at Southern Hills with a severe limp. He skipped the U.S. Open to make sure he was ready for St. Andrews, but missed the cut at the British Open.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tiger Woods withdraws from 2023 Masters before play resumes Sunday