Tiger Woods withdraws from Begay's charity event

[August 27, 2013]  VERONA, N.Y. (AP) -- Tiger Woods has pulled out of a charity event for good friend Notah Begay because of his ailing back.

The Notah Begay III Foundation Challenge said Monday night that Gary Woodland will replace Woods in the field Wednesday at Turning Stone Resort.

Woods said he felt stiffness in his back last week at The Barclays from a soft bed in his hotel. He said he suffered a back spasm during a seven-hole stretch at the end of the final round, and he dropped to his knees after one shot. Woods finished one shot behind winner Adam Scott.

Woods has not said if he would play in the Deutsche Bank Championship, the second FedEx Cup playoff event that starts Friday on the TPC Boston. The tournament benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation. Woods had to miss another event that supports his foundation, the AT&T National, two months ago because of an elbow injury.

"While we're disappointed Tiger is unable to play in this year's event, the important thing for Tiger is to make sure he's 100 percent healthy and not risk further injuring himself," Begay said.

Woods said he has spoken to Begay, his teammate at Stanford, and expressed his regrets at having to pull out.

[Associated Press]

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