Rory McIlroy rallies at Genesis Invitational as Tiger Woods comeback is cut short

Tiger Woods' PGA Tour comeback ended prematurely after he pulled out of the Genesis Invitational in California during his second round.

The 48-year-old is still adapting to ankle fusion surgery, having undergone treatment in April last year after withdrawing from the Masters during the third round and he did not compete again until the Hero World Challenge in December.

The 15-time major champion, tournament host this week, finished Thursday’s opening round at the Riviera Country Club on one-over par.

But the American could not back that up a day later as he withdrew after six holes due to illness.

Woods started in fine form, producing a birdie on the first, but back-to-back bogeys arrived from the fourth and he called it a day after a third par on the sixth left him one over for his round.

Woods was driven back to the locker room by a rules official.

He had suffered from a back spasm towards the end of his first round, shanking his second shot on the 18th from the fairway over into the trees on the right, eventually sinking a two-putt bogey to make a five.

Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy recorded three birdies and an eagle in a flawless five-under-par second round as he fought to beat the cut.

The Northern Irishman had struggled for a three-over-par 74 on day one but ended the second day on two under, well inside the projected cut mark - top 50 and ties - of even par, with multiple players still on course.

Seamus Power was right on that even-par mark thru 13 holes.

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