Woods Withdraws from Honda Classic


Tiger Woods said last week that he might return to the PGA Tour for next week's Honda Classic. But on Thursday the 39-year-old said his game wasn't acceptable enough to venture back out into the heat of competition.

Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, notified Honda Classic officials that Woods would not be entering. "He doesn't look at this with any time deadline right now," Steinberg said. "Does he expect to be at the Masters? Yes, of course.

"But that doesn't mean that is where he expects to debut. He just doesn't know where. I think Tiger would tell you he'd be shocked if he wasn't at the Masters. He's working at it. When that time comes, he's going to do some things in practice to replicate whatever he can under the gun and then put it in play."

"I got a call this afternoon from Mark Steinberg on behalf of Tiger," said Honda Classic executive director Ken Kennerly. "He wanted to let us know that Tiger is not going to play in the Honda Classic. He's been working on his game this week and feels as though he is not tournament ready to play next week.

"We continue to wish Tiger a speedy recovery. Tiger has been great to the Honda Classic and we look forward to his return to tournament golf in the coming weeks and to welcoming him again at the Honda Classic in future years."

"My play, and scores, are not acceptable for tournament golf," Woods said in a post on his website last week. "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. ... I am committed to getting back to the pinnacle of my game."

Steinberg added Thursday, "He's working hard on his game, but as the statement said last week very candidly, he'll be back when he feels like he's game-ready and can compete at a high level. He's only been at it here for 3½ days. It's not there yet. I don't think that's a shock. There's been no setbacks. In talking to him, his back is feeling good. He's working hard. He's been practicing. There's been no issues at all."

The 14-time major champion has played in only two tournaments this year. He missed the cut after posting the highest score of his career, a second-round 82, at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Two weeks ago, he suddenly pulled out of the Farmers Insurance Open after completing just 11 holes due to lower-back stiffness.

In the past year he's played in just nine events, withdrawing from three tournaments and not making the cut in three others.

Woods is currently ranked 66th in the World Golf Ranking.