SPORTS INSIDER – New back injury leaves Tiger Woods’ future uncertain; Nationals pick Cabrera to upgrade

Cecilia Ferrara
August 4, 2014
Sports Writer
Sports Insider

Though Tiger Woods advanced to the final round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, a back injury forced him to make an early exit on Sunday. He withdrew after eight holes, when he hurt his back after falling into a bunker.

“I just jarred it, and it’s been spasming ever since,” Woods told a PGA Tour official.

It was another disappointing ending for Woods, who has struggled since his return to competitive golf. The Bridgestone Invitational was his third tournament appearance since undergoing back surgery on March 31st, and it seems as though his back is still giving him trouble. His agent has said that Woods is home in Florida resting and will seek treatment and an assessment later. He added that it was pointless to make a decision on his playing “without proper time to give him the best chance.”

It’s understandable that golf players and fans are eager to see what Woods’ next move is. If he doesn’t play in the PGA Championship, which begins this Thursday, to make the FedEx Cup Playoffs, he would have to play in and win the Wyndham Championship.

If Woods missed the playoffs, his next chance to play competitive golf would be in the Ryder Cup at the end of September. But even then, his participation in the biennial match play between teams from Europe and the U.S. would be in the hands of American team leader Tom Watson, who would have to select him as one of his three captains.

“As I’ve said all along, I would pick Tiger Woods if he’s healthy and playing well,” Watson said. “That doesn’t bode well right now. I just hope that maybe it’s just an isolated problem that he can turn around and possibly play this week at the PGA.”

With his future up in the air, Woods will just have to rest and hope that his injury will not sideline him for too long. Though that is a silver lining, if there is one. He will have more time to rest, rehab, and return in better shape.

Rory McIlroy won the tournament, just two weeks after taking home the Claret Jug. With the victory, he moved back to No. 1 in the official world golf rankings. He will have a chance to win a third straight title, and another major, in this week’s PGA Championship.

Nationals

Many major league teams took advantage of the trade deadline last Thursday, and the Washington Nationals were no exception.

In need of some infield help, with Ryan Zimmerman on the disabled list for the foreseeable future, the Nats traded away the young Zach Walters in exchange of veteran Asdrubal Cabrera from the Cleveland Indians. Historically, a shortstop, Cabrera will play second base for Washington, which will allow Anthony Rendon to cover third, while Zimmerman nurses a small tear in his hamstring.

“With a healthy Zim, we certainly wouldn’t have found the need to go out and acquire a player as skillful as Cabrera,” Washington’s General Manager Mike Rizzo said. “We like the team that we have. When Zim went down, to protect ourselves, we felt we should go out and get ourselves a good veteran to fit into the lineup.”

Cabrera is an all-star (2011 and 2012), and currently batting .246. He has proven himself valuable in the playoffs in the past, and the Nats are hopeful he will give them a similar edge as the pennant race intensifies.