Tiger Woods downplays ‘injury recurrence’ concerns

Tiger Woods has moved quick to dispel any concerns over his fitness after opening with a 72 at the Memorial Tournament.

Woods, 42, played his first seven holes in four-over before recovering to post a level-par score.

The former world No.1 – five times of a winner of this week’s tournament at Muirfield Village – admitted afterwards that his back had been tight throughout the round. However, he insisted that there is no cause for alarm, despite his past history of back injuries.    

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“I wasn’t rotating very well today, back was tight, and just it is what it is some days,” said Woods. “I made a few tweaks in my swing, my set-up, and lo and behold I was able to make some good swings on my back nine and turned the whole thing around.”

Pressed to elaborate, Woods added: “I have days like that. My back is fused. I’m going to have days where it’s just tight. Unfortunately, today was one of those days and that’s alright. I don’t have any pain, thank God. It’s just tight. So, no biggie.

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“It’s aging and it’s surgeries. It is what it is. Just got to make the adjustments and I’m able to make them now.”

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The 2014 Memorial winner Hideki Matsuyama is in a three-way tie for the lead after the opening round. He posted a seven-under 65 to top the leaderboard alongside Mexico’s Abraham Ancer and Chilean golfer Joaquin Niemann, who only turned professional just over a month ago.  

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