Tiger’s decision wise

Tiger Woods’ decision to rule himself out of contention for next month’s Ryder Cup was a wise one given his struggles since undergoing back surgery in March, but it also raises fresh concerns over the former world No 1’s playing future.

Yet former PGA Championship winner Paul Azinger believes Woods’ problems this year are not purely physical, and that perhaps he has spent too much time on yet another overhaul of his swing.

Woods missed the cut at last week’s PGA Championship, only the fourth time he has done so as a professional in the majors, having pronounced himself fit to compete on the eve of the tournament.

He suffered a different back scare during the previous week’s Bridgestone Invitational, but said that was resolved after his physiotherapist popped back his sacrum (a bone at the base of the spine), which had loosened after he landed awkwardly in a bunker.

However, a similar problem occurred before Woods teed off in the PGA Championship second round, forcing him to restrict his backswing and rely on timing, a combination that left him a distant 15 strokes off the lead by the time he finished.

Only time will tell if following doctor’s orders to the letter will help Woods get back to the sort of form which has earned him 79 career victories on the PGA Tour.