Tiger Woods not ruled out at Valhalla

ByBob Harig ESPN logo
Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Tiger Woods' agent said Monday that Woods has not been ruled out of the PGA Championship this week at Valhalla despite his withdrawal from the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday with a back injury.

In a text message to ESPN.com, Mark Steinberg said it was too soon to determine whether Woods would play in the year's final major in Louisville, Kentucky.

"Way too early. He has to rest and get treatment and then assess later," he wrote. "Pointless to make that decision now without proper time to give him best chance. Nothing further today, maybe [not] even tomorrow."

The PGA of America said in a tweet later on Monday that Woods' tournament news conference scheduled for Tuesday morning would not take place.

Earlier Monday, U.S. captain Tom Watson said the injury "doesn't bode well right now" for Woods' chances to be selected to the Ryder Cup team.

Woods, who won the PGA Championship in 2000 at Valhalla, flew home to Florida on Sunday for evaluation.

He withdrew from the WGC-Bridgestone after hitting his tee shot on the ninth hole, where he was in visible pain trying to pick up his tee. Later, at his car in the parking lot at Firestone Country Club, he spoke briefly, saying he "jarred it" when he hopped into a fairway bunker on the second hole after hitting a shot from an awkward stance.

It was Woods' third tournament since returning from March back surgery.

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