WINDERMERE, Fla. — Tiger Woods had his best score of the week and never felt worse Saturday in the Hero World Challenge.
Woods lost his voice overnight. He was nauseous on the practice range and when he took a swig of water on the first hole, he threw it up. He had a fever that finally broke on the front nine at Isleworth. And he closed with three straight birdies for a 3-under 69.
"It wasn't easy and I fought hard," Woods said. "That's about all I had."
It was enough to at least get back to even par for the tournament, though he remained in last place and was the only player not under par.
Woods hasn't competed since Aug. 9 when he missed the cut at the PGA Championship, taking off nearly four months to build up strength so that his injured back would be fully healed. This is the only tournament he will play for about two months. The tournament benefits his foundation and learning centers, and it has a new sponsor.
What a time to get sick.
"That's the way it goes," Woods said.
He said he wouldn't have withdrawn even if this were not his tournament. And it's not like illness has never held him back. It was 11 years ago, and just down the road at Bay Hill, when Woods battled a nasty bout of food poisoning during the final round. He won by 11.
