Tiger Woods is taking an indefinite break from golf, saying his game is “unacceptable for tournament play”.
Woods, 39, withdrew injured from last week’s event at Torrey Pines after just 12 holes, having missed the cut at the Phoenix Open the week before.
He said: “I need a lot of work on my game, and to spend time with people that are important to me.
“I enter a tournament to compete at the highest level, and when I think I’m ready, I’ll be back.”
Woods plays from the rough with an awkward stance as he cards the worst round of his professional career in Phoenix
Woods has withdrawn from three of his last eight competitive tournaments.
In missing the cut in Arizona last month, he recorded the worst round of his professional career with an 11-over-par 82 in the second round.
Finishing last in a field of 132, Woods said: “I’ve got to keep this in perspective. Sometimes that’s hard to do.”
On his website, the 14-time major winner said he regretted withdrawing from Torrey Pines and that his current injury was not related to last year’s back surgery.
He intends to spend the next week practising at home to “get ready for the rest of the year”.
“I’d like to play in the Honda Classic (from 26 February) but I won’t be there unless my game is tournament ready.
“I am committed to getting back to the pinnacle of my game,” he added. “I do expect to be playing again very soon.”
Woods was driven off the course after withdrawing from Torrey Pines with injury
Tiger Woods reaches into a cactus while searching for his ball in Arizona last month
Source: BBC