Tiger Woods made the turn on Sunday at The Barclays just a shot off the lead, but the back problems which have flared up during the month of August may have just taken him out of contention at Liberty National. Tiger was seen stretching out the back on the tee at No. 13, trying to work out the spasms which have been an issue throughout the week. Just a few minutes later, Woods went for the green in two on the reachable par-5, trying to get home and make an easy birdie to join the leaders at 11-under.
But Tiger's fairway metal went some 40 yards off line, into the water and the No. 1 player in the world immediately collapsed to the ground in pain on all fours:
The ball ended up completely off the course, in some green-filled gunky New Jersey swamp. This is the kind of water hazard you end up with when you build your golf course on a landfill in the Garden State:
Woods played Wednesday's pro-am at Liberty National but only did some light chipping and putting work around the green, trying to avoid further injury by taking full cuts. The spasms have persisted during the tournament but Woods still shot three rounds in the 60s to stay in it. The problem was first apparent on Sunday at the PGA Championship, where Tiger winced on several occasions.
But this second shot at the 13th on Sunday was the most visible pain we've seen from Woods this month, and in addition to potentially taking him out of it on Sunday, may put the rest of his FedExCup Playoffs in doubt.
More from SB Nation Golf:
• Tiger’s birdfest ends in a clang
• Tiger's on a roll that only Mother Nature can stop
• Tiger favored to win The Barclays