EXCLUSIVE: Tiger Woods would love to RETIRE from golf but must play on to support his brand – including new ‘Sun Day Red’ clothing line – after 47-year-old was carted off the course at his long-awaited PGA Tour return

Tiger Woods wants to retire from golf but the icon must continue to play and make appearances to support his brand and new ‘Sun Day Red’ clothing line.

This week, Woods made a comeback to the PGA Tour but had to drop out of the Genesis Invitational on Friday due to flu-like symptoms and dehydration after completing only 24 holes, following his tee shot on the seventh hole at Riviera.   

During the round, he was one stroke over par, making his total score for the tournament two strokes over par.  

As he appeared to be just missing the cut line, he requested a cart and was driven off the course by a rules official.  

He seemed fatigued and was walking slowly while playing the front nine.   

“Woods had not competed in a professional tournament since the Masters in April, where he withdrew during the rain-delayed third round.   He participated in the informal Hero World Challenge in December, which featured a 20-player field with no elimination, and the 36-hole PNC Championship alongside his son, Charlie.”   

Tiger Woods has participated in six official tournaments since recovering from a serious car accident in February 2021 that caused severe injuries to his right leg.   However, he has withdrawn from three of these tournaments – the 2022 PGA Championship after completing 54 holes, as well as the 2023 Masters where he did not return on Sunday morning to finish the third round. 

Woods had said he hoped to play one tournament a month through the major season. He had said Thursday he was experiencing back spasms, which led to his shank on the final hole when he started the tournament with a 72.

Along with playing, Woods is the tournament host of the Genesis Invitational that is run by his TGR foundation.

Along with playing, Woods is the tournament host of the Genesis Invitational that is run by his TGR foundation.

His week in Los Angeles began with plenty of hype – the launch of his new apparel line with TaylorMade Golf and his first PGA Tour start of the year.

But a source has told DailyMail.com that Woods wants to walk away from golf but continues to play and make appearances to support his brand.

They said: ‘If Tiger could retire, he would.

‘His body is beat up but, for his brand, he still has to make and keep appearances and make a go at it.

‘After his car accident, he thought that was it. There was almost an amputation in play, so to be back even at all is sort of a miracle.

‘Now with this recent illness that had him bow out of the latest tournament, that is unfortunate, but he will be back because he has to support his new brand Sun Day Red, and everything else in his world.

‘He’ll be back even though he would love nothing more than to retire.’

Woods left Riviera about two hours after he withdrew, sitting in the front seat of a red SUV as it departed.

Rob McNamara, his longtime associate and vice president of TGR Ventures, said Woods felt flu symptoms Thursday night that worsened when he woke up.

‘He had a little bit of a fever and was better during the warm-up, but then when he got out there and was walking and playing, he started feeling dizzy,’ McNamara told a PGA Tour official.

‘Ultimately, the doctors are saying he’s got potentially some type of flu and that he was dehydrated. He´s been treated with an IV bag and he´s doing much, much better, and he’ll be released on his own here soon.’

“He clearly appeared different, not like his usual self.   I noticed this even before the round began,” commented Gary Woodland, who was in the same group as Woods and Justin Thomas.    “Clearly, having him there makes everything better, and it’s unfortunate that he couldn’t finish the way he wanted to in his first tournament back.   It’s disappointing for all of us.”   

Woodland observed that Woods was unusually quiet, but all of them were focused on ensuring they were in the top 50 to advance to the next round.    “I feel sorry for him.  

He wasn’t in the best condition,” Woodland expressed.   “He was definitely pushing himself and I wish him a speedy recovery.”