Monday 4 August 2014 16:51, UK
Tiger Woods' participation in this week's US PGA is in doubt after he was forced to pull out of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational with a back problem.
Woods hit a number of poor shots in the final round at Firestone Country Club in Akron on Sunday and, after missing the fairway with his tee shot on the ninth, he was driven off the course in considerable pain.
He was taken to the car park where he again looked in discomfort as he prepared to leave a venue where he has won eight times, including by seven shots last year.
The 38-year-old underwent back surgery in March, ruling him out of action until the Congressional on June 26.
He missed the cut by four shots in that event but reported no problems with his back after playing all four rounds of the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool last month.
However, the latest problem has cast doubt over his participation in the final major of the year which starts at Valhalla in Kentucky on Thursday.
When asked if he had suffered the same injury which led to surgery and ruled him out of the Masters and US Open, Woods said: "It's just the whole lower back.
"It happened on the second hole when I hit my second shot. I fell back into the bunker. Just jarred it. It's been spasming ever since."
"I don't know about Valhalla, I'm just trying to get out of here."
European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley said: "He looks like he's maybe come back too early.
"The way he played I saw him hit shots on the front nine there that I've never seen him in his life come close to hitting. There's obviously something going on."
Watch all four days of the US PGA live on Sky Sports from 6.00pm this Thursday
