Woods to miss AP

[Aotearoa_Brad]

I don't think this is really a huge surprise to most, but he is definitely running out of time to get rounds under the bale before the Masters...

 

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Missing AP, but making strides and working hard towards hopeful Masters return. http://t.co/KlNFDIeZYi

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) March 13, 2015

 

Woods 'making strides,' but not playing Bay Hill

[Ryan Reiterman, http://bit.ly/1BCRIAL, March 13, 2015]

 

Tiger Woods will not play next week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he announced Friday.

 

The eight-time Bay Hill champion said he's still working to get his game back in shape after an embarrassing start to the 2015 season.

 

"I spoke to Arnold today and told him that I will not play in his tournament this year," Woods said in a statement on his website. "I'm sorry I won't be in Orlando next week, but I know it will be a really successful event."

 

Woods missed the cut at the Phoenix Open after shooting a career-worst 82 in the second round. Woods then withdrew the following week from the Farmers Insurance Open because of another back injury. In both starts, the 79th-ranked player in the world also continued to struggle with his chipping. In a statement released on February 11, Woods said his back was feeling better, but he wouldn't return to the Tour until his game was in better shape.

 

"I've put in a lot of time and work on my game and I'm making strides, but like I've said, I won't return to the PGA TOUR until my game is tournament ready and I can compete at the highest level," Woods said Friday.

 

Palmer released a statement shortly after Woods.

 

"Tiger called me personally this afternoon to let me know that he wouldn't be playing here at Bay Hill," Palmer said. "He said that his game is not quite ready yet and that he was disappointed that he won't be able to play in the tournament, which has always meant a lot to him. I'm sorry that he won't be playing. We'll certainly miss him, but I understand and appreciated that he called me."

 

With Woods out at Bay Hill for the second year in a row, there are only two tournaments left – the Valero Texas Open and the Shell Houston Open – before the Masters, which Woods missed last year for the first time as a professional while recovering from back surgery.

 

If Woods were to break from his traditional schedule and add an event before the Masters, Houston seems a likely choice. The course is set up similar to Augusta with light rough and tightly mowed grass around the greens.

 

While Woods didn't say if he would play one of the Texas events, he's still holding out hope to play in the first major of the season.

 

"I hope to be ready for the Masters, and I will continue to work hard preparing for Augusta," Woods said.

 

This year will mark the 10-year anniversary of Woods’ last win at the Masters.

 

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It's sad, but I really can't see him having time to get himself in form to be contention at the Masters

[apprenti23]

I'll tell ya what...if he's skulling and shanking chips at Augusta he won't break 90!

[BIG STU]

On the GC they are in morning or so it seems. I would not be surprised if there are not wreaths posted in the entrance of their Orlando headquarters. I guess he will be back when HE and he alone feels ready and confident to compete. I feel the pressure is on him both mentally and physically.

[apprenti23]

They did it to themselves. When you put all of your eggs in one basket, there you go.

[revkev]

I brought a friend to Valspar who is a very casual golf fan and golfer.  He wanted to know why Tiger wasn't playing (and also where John Daly was.)  How do you explain to a guy that one of the greatest players ever would never play Copperhead because it would eat his lunch (even at close to his prime) and that the other guy he likes would have trouble winning money at our local Friday game because A his game stinks and if he's playing scratch there are people there who will beat him (Hooters tour types) and B they have a beer cart to make sure that they will.

 

We can make fun of the Golf Channel all we want, they show what sells - they don't have to cater to us because we are going to watch for the golf (go figure).  They have to figure out how to draw other people to watch.

 

Tiger is news and will be until he says - "I've played my last game of golf."

[mr_divots]

I can't imagine coming off an 82 and making the next course you play be Augusta. Good luck with that.

[Undershooter]

I can't imagine coming off an 82 and making the next course you play be Augusta. Good luck with that.

I can.... if I ever get the chance to play Augusta. Which I won't lol

[ZenGolfer]

At this point, should anyone be surprised?  Tiger is broken and isnt going to embarrass himself at a lesser tournament when the Masters is so close.

[revkev]

If he doesn't play Augusta that talk about suspension will resurface in spades. Confidentiality is a concept that sounds good on paper but often backfires in real life.

[apprenti23]

If he doesn't play Augusta that talk about suspension will resurface in spades. Confidentiality is a concept that sounds good on paper but often backfires in real life.

That's verrrrrrry interesting....

[westy]

I for one want to see if he can play the whole par 3 tournament! Nice 70 yard shot over water.....chunk, thin, withdraw?

 

I just hope he doesn't pull out once he's started and rob another player of the chance to play in the masters.

 

Oh and yes Rev your right the gossip will start again.

 

But the tour could sort out gossip by just having a proper drug testing policy.

[RoverRick]

 

I don't think this is really a huge surprise to most, but he is definitely running out of time to get rounds under the bale before the Masters...

 

It's sad, but I really can't see him having time to get himself in form to be contention at the Masters

 

 

I am going to disagree with everybody. During a tournament you have to have confidence in your swing and particularly your wedges.  Tiger knows how to win and play in tournaments, but swing changes in the full swing can and do have ripple effects in the short game.

 

I spent years trying to change my swing, and finally can do it, most of the time, on the course, but my short game has gone away. I need to spend time practicing that, which I have not done. Granted, it is not like Tiger has anything else to do, but if he does not have confidence that he can save a hole with a wedge, he might as well stay home.

[revkev]

I don't think you are disagreeing with us Rick. We agree that it's best for Tiger to stay home until he gets his game in order. The problem is that the longer that takes the more the speculation will fly.

[westy]

Indeed Rev, sure we are agreeing with Rick. Sure tigers clean, just not fit or playing well.

 

One Problem with the rubbish drug process in golf is that it allows gossip to build because PGA don't comment. Secrecy is rarely a good thing around drugs in sport, cycling anyone?