Injuries are affecting play on both the PGA and LPGA Tours this weekend.
One of the biggest stories in all of sports is Tiger Woods’ return to competitive play at the PGA Championship after withdrawing from the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday. Woods was in obvious pain from back spasms caused by stepping awkwardly in a bunker on the front nine of his final round at Firestone Country Club.
The WGC-Bridgestone was just his third start since back surgery in late March, that kept him away from the tour for three months.
Defending Champion, Jason Dufner was forced to withdraw from the PGA Championship on Thursday. He has been suffering through neck pain caused by bulging disks.
Dufner was eight-over-par through 10 holes on Thursday before he called it quits.
He told ESPN,
“I won’t play golf again until I am healthy. That could be at The Barclays, that could be next year or that could be in 2016. I refuse to be out here and not be healthy. You’re not giving yourself a chance to be competitive.”
The injury first started affecting Dufner at the Masters. He received treatment on July 28, but the pain has not eased.
Matt Kuchar also withdrew on Thursday before his 9:05 tee time at the PGA Championship citing a sore back. Ben Crane, who has battled injuries throughout his career, also withdrew on Friday with his own back issues.
With Dustin Johnson on a leave of absence, Woods, Dufner and Kuchar dealing with their own injury problems, will there be anyone left to fill out a roster for Captain Tom Watson at the Ryder Cup in September?
The LPGA Tour is in Grand Rapids, Michigan for the inaugural Meijer LPGA Classic and Michelle Wie withdrew from the tournament after playing nine holes on Thursday.
She walked directly from the ninth green to the medial facility and said the hand began hurting last week. It got to the point where she could not grip the club.
Wie’s departure from the Meijer LPGA Classic is unfortunate for Michigan golf fans who were looking forward to seeing the U.S. Women’s Open champion play on the Blythefield Country Club course.
Wie is in the midst of her best season ever on the LPGA Tour. She is second to Stacy Lewis on the LPGA Tour money list and has moved up to No. 6 in the world rankings.
Tournaments have been added to both the LPGA and PGA Tours extending the season and putting additional stress on players’ physical condition. The constant motion and violent action of a golf swing can contort the body and cause debilitating injuries.