Tiger Woods withdrew from the Nissan Open because of flu before the start of today's third round.
The world number one, who narrowly made the tournament's halfway cut, pulled out before he was scheduled to tee off at Riviera Country Club in the company of fellow American JB Holmes and Australia's Geoff Ogilvy.
"Everyone saw how Tiger felt this week struggling with the flu and he just can't shake it," Woods's manager Mark Steinberg said in a statement. "He feels awful. This is an event he loves to play in and strives to win.
"Tiger doesn't want to pull out of any event ever, much less the Nissan Open in his hometown."
American Woods, who was born in nearby Cypress, fought flu on his way to an opening two-under-par 69 before battling rain and the chills for a 74 in yesterday's second round. He had qualified for the weekend right on the cutline of one-over 143, 11 strokes behind tournament leader Rory Sabbatini of South Africa.
The South African roared past England’s Justin Rose and into a four-shot lead - joint first-round pacesetter Rose could add only a 74 to his opening 64.
Ernie Els, who two weeks ago set a new European record of 70 successive cuts made, looked like bowing out when he stood three over with nine to play earlier in the day. But he then collected birdies at the 10th, 11th and 17th for a 72 that meant he made it into the weekend action with a stroke to spare on level par.
Woods, who won his first two tournaments of the year via playoffs, had been bidding to end a victory drought in the only PGA Tour event he has played on a regular basis without success. The 10-times major winner has finished second twice and in the top 10 four times in 11 Nissan starts.
Paul McGinley finds himself eight shots off the pace after shooting a pair of 70s but Graeme McDowell’s troubles continue as the Portrush professional missed his third straight cut on the US Tour.
"I played good - lots of greens, lots of fairways - and while it’s not world-class it’s something to build on.
"I’ve been in the game long enough. If you have two or three wins in a year it’s an unbelievable year. That means there are 27 events you’re not winning and the key in them is to build up for the weeks when you are hot.
"I’ve made the cut again and have an opportunity for a good finish. It helps to reach the buzz."
McDowell, set to play either Woods or Vijay Singh in next week’s world match play in San Diego depending on whether Retief Goosen pulls out, commented:
"I’m very close. I’m just having a few teething problems with equipment, but it’s getting better every week even if the scores have not shown it. I’m still positive."
Luke Donald and Greg Owen, two under overnight, shot 70 and 71 respectively to be three under and two under.
