Woods Diagnosed with Inflamed Joint in Neck


After withdrawing during the final round of the Players Championship and later explaining he was suffering pains in his neck, Tiger Woods went to the doctor to find out the source. An MRI on Wednesday revealed he's been suffering from an inflamed facet joint in his neck.

The diagnosis was disclosed on his website. "When the facet joints are inflamed, it causes pain in the affected area as well as headaches and difficulty rotating the head," read the statement.

"Physical therapy, including soft-tissue massage, rest and anti-inflammatory medicine will be used to treat the injury. The prognosis for Woods is a full recovery, although a return date to competitive golf is contingent on how quickly the condition heals. The layoff is not expected to be extensive, but can vary."

It's unknown how long Woods will be away from the PGA Tour.

The statement from Woods also included this personal comment: "I want to thank everyone for their caring and concern. I now need to take care of this condition and will return to playing golf when I'm physically able."