The PGA Championship loses the most anticipated protagonist: Tiger Woods. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, after a third round characterized by cold, rain and wind, the Californian retired from the second male Major who, at the end of the “moving day”, sees, surprisingly, the Chilean Guillermo “Mito “Pereira, with a score of 201 (68 64 69, -9) hits.
“I’m in pain, and that’s a fact. I’ll keep working and we’ll see how it goes”, Woods’ only statements at the end of his round in 79 (+9) strokes, his highest score in 79 rounds since him played at the PGA Championship.
Tiger Woods, Pga Championship
Fifteen months after the serious car accident in Los Angeles that put his career at risk and resulted in an operation on his right leg, with shattered tibia and fibula and screws and pins applied to the ankle and foot, despite admirable efforts , Woods is still not at its best.
Indeed, despite the optimism shown on the eve of the PGA Championship (“I Can Win”), ‘The Big Cat’ on the pitch showed himself limp. “As much as he is working day after day, his body is not cooperating,” explained caddy, Joe La Cava.
“He felt pain, discomfort. And the difficult weather conditions did not help him. There are no updates on his future, the reality today is that Tiger is not at his best”, the opinion of his agent Mark Steinberg. A new stop, with Woods who will continue to think day after day with the aim of playing only the big tournaments.
The next one, the US Open, is scheduled for June 16-19 in Brookline (Massachussetts). And three weeks after the start, Tiger’s presence appears uncertain, but the future is also a question mark again. Despite nine operations, the divorce, the arrest – and a lot of business in between – Woods never gave up.
And he will continue to try, despite the pain and his 46 years. Tiger Woods throws in the towel and retires from the 2022 PGA Championship. “I have pain in my foot. We’ll do some work and see how it goes, “said the 46-year-old at the end of the third lap with 79 strokes, 9 above par on the Southern Hills course.
Meanwhile, the new leader is Chilean rookie Guillermo “Mito” Pereira. The American champion, in the second race after the accident 15 months ago, appeared physically exhausted. From that incident Woods came out with shattered tibia and fibula first and then screws and pins in the ankle and foot.
“I didn’t play well” he said at the press conference, admitting that he didn’t score “good shots, I hit too many bogeys and therefore the score is very high” On Woods score a birdie, seven bogeys and a triple bogey.
This 79 is the highest score ever achieved in a round of the 79 played in his career at the PGA Championship (exceeded 77 in 2011 in Atlanta). In his 81 Majors played (15 won) only in 2002 in an Open Championship things were worse (81).
“He has felt pain, discomfort. And the difficult weather conditions didn’t help him. There are no updates on his future, the reality today is that Tiger is not at his best, ”added his agent, Mark Steinberg.
