Tiger Woods withdrew from the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday because of a back injury. The 38-year-old, who underwent back surgery in March, now is uncertain for the 2014 PGA Championship on Thursday and faces an uphill battle to break the records owned by Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead.
Woods withdrew from Bridgestone after teeing off on the par-4 ninth hole Sunday because of back spasms. He said the spasms began at the par-4 second hole, where he drove into a right fairway bunker and appeared to lose his footing.
"I fell back into the bunker," Woods said, via his official website. "It just jarred it, and it's been spasming ever since. ... It's just the whole lower back. I'm not sure what happened."
He tried to play through the injury, but the pain intensified and by the ninth hole he couldn't go on. He appeared to be in visible pain and was driven off the course by his caddie, Joe LaCava, according to Woods's website.
Woods has played in only 10 rounds of golf since undergoing back surgery on March 31 for a pinched nerve. Sunday's injury leaves his status in doubt for both the PGA Championship, which begins Thursday, and the 2014 season.
Beyond the PGA Championship, the larger question looming is how Woods will finish his career. Age is catching up to him, and his body appears to be breaking down. Two records once in reach - Snead's 82 PGA tour wins and Nicklaus's 18 major championship wins - now appear less attainable.
Wood started last season strong, but his play waned through the year. He still managed to come away with five wins in 2013, including his 79th - and most recent - tour win at last year's Bridgestone Invitational.
While he could win three more tournaments to catch up to Snead, it appears far less likely he will win four more majors to catch up to Nicklaus. Woods hasn't won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open, and given his recent string of injuries and the time it takes to knock off the rust, the odds are against Woods coming away with four more major titles before retirement.
If Woods is fit to play in the PGA Championship, he'll tee off Thursday at 8:35 a.m. ET.
