Tiger Woods’ back injury could end his career

HE’S enjoyed one of the most dominant careers in the sporting world, but now Tiger Woods is struggling big time. A painful incident in his last tournament is threatening to unravel everything.

World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational - Final Round

TIGER Woods was at the Bridgestone Invitational, and the scene looked all too familiar.

Except this time, he wasn’t hoisting the trophy. The former world number one could barely bend over to pick up his tee.

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On Sunday, right when Woods thought he was making some progress in his return from back surgery, he suffered a scary setback. The eight-time champion was stricken with more back pain and forced to withdraw the Ohio tournament after just eight holes.

AKRON, OH - AUGUST 03: Tiger Woods hits off the third fairway during the final round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course on August 3, 2014 in Akron, Ohio. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

How bad was it? As Woods stood next to his car afterwards, preparing to head home to Florida, he struggled with the simple task of removing his golf shoes. Eventually, caddie Joe LaCava drove him away into an uncertain future.

The lasting images of Woods at Firestone were not of him winning, like he did in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2013. Those days of unmatched dominance are gone, and this time the images were of Woods wincing, hobbling and twitching.

We saw the same thing at the Honda Classic in Florida earlier this year. Woods had to withdraw from that tournament as well, before undergoing back surgery on March 31 to alleviate an impinged nerve.

AKRON, OH - AUGUST 03: Tiger Woods lines up a putt on the first green during the final round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course on August 3, 2014 in Akron, Ohio. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

The Bridgestone Invitational was his third tournament since then. It was supposed to be a sign of progress. Instead, it only brought him more pain.

Woods re-injured himself while playing a shot from the edge of a bunker on the second hole. With all of his weight on his right leg, he slashed at the ball awkwardly, fell back towards the sand and landed with a thud.

“I just jarred (my back), and it’s been spasming ever since,” Woods told a PGA Tour official later, before making his uneasy exit.

AKRON, OH - AUGUST 03: Tiger Woods hits out of the rough on the second hole during the final round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course on August 3, 2014 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

In typically stubborn fashion, Woods kept playing after the initial incident, even as his increasingly terrible shots rained down on the fairways of Firestone. One skewed into the water, 27 metres short of the flag. Another, on a par-3 hole, landed 60 metres away from its target.

Woods continued in similarly cringe-worthy fashion until the ninth hole, when he sent one final drive into the rough. He slowly stooped over, reaching for his back, then bent down to remove his tee from the ground. Moments later, he stepped into a cart and headed for the parking lot.

“It’s just the whole lower back,” Woods said. “I don’t know what happened.”

AKRON, OH - AUGUST 03: Tiger Woods hits off the second tee during the final round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course on August 3, 2014 in Akron, Ohio. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Eventual champion Rory McIlroy said he felt “really bad” watching Woods’ performance.

“Golf really needs Tiger and he’s had a few withdrawals over the past few years,” said the new world number one, who just replaced Aussie Adam Scott at the top of the rankings.

“I think the first thing he needs to do is just get fit and 100 per cent healthy. Even take the year off, just to be able to do that.”

MORE: McIlroy knocks Aussie off top spot

One of Woods’ fiercest rivals, Phil Mickelson, is scheduled to play the opening two rounds of the PGA Championship alongside him next week.

“It didn’t look good. It looked like he was really in pain,” Mickelson said.

“As much as I love playing with him, playing against him, trying to beat him, we all want him in the field. We all want him back. I just hope he’s OK.”

AKRON, OH - AUGUST 03: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland holds the Gary Player Cup trophy after winning the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational with a score of -15 during the final round at Firestone Country Club South Course on August 3, 2014 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

AKRON, OH - AUGUST 01: Phil Mickelson hits off the 18th tee during the second round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course on August 1, 2014 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Considering the pain he suffered at Firestone, Woods now seems unlikely to participate in the championship. That could mark the end of his season, as Woods would have to win the tournament to be eligible for the FedEx Cup playoffs.

He’s also in doubt for the USA’s Ryder Cup campaign against Europe. Team captain Tom Watson has said he wants Woods in the squad if he’s healthy and playing well. But at Firestone, Woods was doing neither.