Feb 6 (Reuters) - Tiger Woods' withdrawal from last week's Dubai Desert Classic due to back spasms has cast a lengthening shadow over his return to competition, leaving at least one expert to conclude his brilliant career is now drawing to a premature close.
While manager Mark Steinberg downplayed the withdrawal, saying Woods had a "back spasm", sports injury expert Selene Parekh says the player "should be very concerned" that he had to make an early departure from the Middle East event.
Comfortably the greatest player of his generation and arguably the best of all time, Woods was a creaking shadow of his former self in Dubai, struggling to a five-over 77 in the opening round before pulling out of the tournament the following day.