KILKENNY, Ireland, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Defending champion Tiger Woods could pull out of the WGC-American Express Championship in Ireland because of a back injury, he said Wednesday.
Woods said he would make a decision after he warms up prior to Thursday's first round.
The 28-year-old Woods, who is ranked No. 2 in the world behind Vijay Singh, said he hurt his back "sleeping kind of awkwardly" on a flight to Ireland and that the pain is on the left side between the shoulder blades.
Woods, who has won the event three times, played seven holes of practice at the Mount Juliet Conrad course, a par-72, 7,112-yard layout. He said he cut the round short because "I didn't want to push it."
Singh is not playing in the tournament.
The field includes Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Davis Love III, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Sergio Garcia and Irish Ryder Cup teammates Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley.
