‘Just not ready’ as Tiger Woods pulls out of Torrey Pines tournament
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Tiger Woods' mother, Kultida Woods, follows him after he won the Masters in Augusta on April 14, 2019.
PHOTO: DOUG MILLS/NYTIMES
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WASHINGTON – Golf superstar Tiger Woods said on Feb 10 that he was “just not ready” as he announced he will not play in this week’s Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines as planned following his mother’s death.
The 15-time Major champion had initially committed to his first professional tournament in seven months at the Genesis, a PGA Tour event which he hosts.
His decision to play came just days after he announced that his mother, Kultida, had died last week at the age of 78.
“I planned to tee it up this week, but I’m just not ready,” the American said in a statement posted on social media.
“I did my best to prepare, knowing it’s what my Mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss.
“Thanks to everyone who has reached out. I hope to be at Torrey later in the week and appreciate the continued kindness since my Mom’s passing.”
Woods had wanted to make his first appearance in a non-Major on the US tour since he played at the Genesis in February 2024, withdrawing during the second round because of illness.
He went on to finish 60th at the Masters and missed the cut in the year’s other three Majors, as he struggled to recover between rounds because of back trouble and leg injuries from a 2021 car crash that continues to hamper him. His last start was at the British Open in July 2024.
Woods had another back surgery in September and teed it up alongside his son Charlie at the PNC Championship family event in Florida in December 2024.
He has also played in the TGL, the indoor simulator league he launched with Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy in 2025.
The 49-year-old has a long history of success on Torrey Pines’ South Course, where his eight victories included his iconic 2008 US Open triumph in a play-off against Rocco Mediate.
Two days after that win, he announced he was undergoing knee surgery, revealing he had played with a broken leg.
The Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades is the usual venue for the Genesis.
Although the historic venue was not damaged during the California wildfires, it fell within the boundaries of the mandatory evacuation zone that forced residents to flee in January.
Organisers and the PGA Tour opted to move the event due to the impact of the fires on the local community. AFP
