Tiger Woods has been handed a fresh injury blow less than a month ahead of the first Major of the year, The Masters at Augusta.
The former world number one, 6/1 with bookmaker to win a fifth Masters title, was forced to pull out after 11 holes of his final round at the WGC Cadillac Championship, with Woods complaining of a sore Achilles.
A statement from Woods confirmed: “I felt tightness in my left Achilles when warming up this morning. It felt progressively worse throughout the day.”
The tournament in Florida was eventually won by England’s Justin Rose, while new world number one Rory McIlroy finished two shots back in third place.
McIlroy is in fine form ahead of his return to Augusta, where he collapsed on the final day a year ago, losing a four-shot lead and eventually finishing ten shots adrift of eventual winner Charl Schwartzel.