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ORLANDO, Fla. — Even after his stunning victory at last year’s Masters, Tiger Woods warned he would remain ever cautious with his surgically repaired back for the rest of his career. In that context, as Woods played only 12 tournaments in 2019, the decision was viewed as sensible and raised few eyebrows.
Less than three months into a new golf year, however, it is clear that Woods’s balky back is genuinely inhibiting him. On Friday, Woods pulled out of next week’s Players Championship, the PGA Tour’s flagship event, which has golf’s strongest field and largest prize money payout — $15 million.