Tiger Woods withdraws from final round of PGA Championship as England’s Matt Fitzpatrick eyes stunning win

Tiger Woods will not finish the US PGA Championship after withdrawing ahead of his final round at Southern Hills due to injury.

Woods, making only his second appearance following a life-threatening car crash in February 2021, endured his third-worst round in a major on Saturday, shooting a nine-over 79 that left him joint-bottom on +12.

The 46-year-old also made five consecutive bogeys for the first time in a major since he turned professional in 1996.

Woods said: ‘I just didn’t play well. I didn’t hit the ball very well. I’m sore. I know that is for a fact. We’ll do some work and see how it goes.’

The PGA of America president Jim Richerson later confirmed: ‘Tiger Woods has informed us that he is withdrawing from the 2022 PGA Championship.

‘We admire Tiger’s valiant effort to compete here at Southern Hills and wish him the best as he continues to recover from his injuries.’

At the top of the leaderboard, England’s Matt Fitzpatrick is just three shots behind surprise leader Mito Pereira going into Sunday’s final round.

The 27-year-old is joint-second alongside Will Zalatoris on six under after a three-under 67 in the third round.

‘I am looking forward to whatever happens,’ Fitzpatrick said. ‘I have played well for three rounds at least.

‘I have had the experience of being in the lead before in Europe and a major is completely different. This is my first time being in proper contention so I am looking forward to trying to stay as level as possible.’

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Chilean Pereira, who is making just his second appearance in a major, added: ‘If you play