Former world number one and 12-time major winner Tiger Woods will take an indefinite leave from golf, with his date return to the sport not yet decided.
Woods has suggested he would like to play in the Honda Classic in Florida in two weeks time, but also said that he will not make a comeback until his game was tournament ready.
“Right now, I need a lot of work on my game, and to still spend time with the people that are important to me. My play, and scores, are not acceptable for tournament golf.
“Like I’ve said, I enter a tournament to compete at the highest level, and when I think I’m ready, I’ll be back. Next week I will practice at Medalist and at home getting ready for the rest of the year. I am committed to getting back to the pinnacle of my game.
“I’d like to play The Honda Classic- it’s a tournament in my hometown and it’s important to me — but I won’t be there unless my game is tournament-ready. That’s not fair to anyone. I do, however, expect to be playing again very soon.”
Woods withdrew from the Farmers Insurance Open last week, won by Australian Jason Day, after just 11 holes of the first round.
The week before he missed the cut by 12 shots at the Phoenix Open in Scottsdale.
“The last two weeks have been very disappointing to me, especially Torrey, because I never want to withdraw,” Woods wrote on his website.
“Unfortunately, lately injuries have made that happen too often.
“I want to thank the fans in Phoenix and San Diego. They were amazing. I greatly appreciate everyone’s support.”
Woods has struggled to make an impact in tournaments since his return from injury mid last year, and has has slipped to 62nd in the World Golf Rankings.
He withdrew from the WCG Bridgestone last year with lower back pain, missed the 2014 US Open with a pinched nerve and failed to make the FedExCup playoffs in 2014. He’s withdrawn from a total of three of his 11 tournaments in the past year.
Woods said his physical condition was improving, but admitted that his play was not good enough, and he would only return to the sport when it was.
Why not build your own fantasy team? Take on other players for a chance to win cash prizes on your favourite sports. Try out Draftstars and PlayUp to put your money where your mouth is! What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
An “unshakeable” Scottie Scheffler has claimed his second Masters green jacket in three years, carding a four-under-par 68 to finish four shots clear of…
A day after setting a tournament record in the Masters, Tiger Woods has suffered an unwanted milestone at Augusta National. Woods insisted he could…
Tiger Woods is on the prowl for a sixth green jacket after penning another glorious chapter in his storied career with a record-breaking 24th…
Bryson DeChambeau has laid some demons to rest with a stunning back-nine birdie barrage to seize the first-round lead at the weather-hit Masters. The…
A year after being persona non grata at Augusta National, Australian golf legend Greg Norman is back at the Masters, declaring "the boss is…
Australian golf star Min Woo Lee has revealed he will play the Masters with a broken finger after suffering the freak injury in the…
