Tiger Woods Pulls Out Of Arnold Palmer Invitational Due To Back Issues, Could Miss Masters

For the fourth consecutive year, Tiger Woods will miss the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Tiger Woods out of API with back spasms, Could Miss Masters

The 41-year-old, 14-time major winner announced via Twitter and his website Thursday night that he would be missing next week’s tournament in Bay Hill, Florida— which he has won a record eight times— due to lingering back problems.

Woods has not played since he withdrew from the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on Feb. 3. He said there is “no timetable” for his return, and is now questionable for the Masters, which begin at Augusta on April 6. Woods added that his “treatments are continuing and going well.”

“I’m especially disappointed because I wanted to help honor Arnold,” Woods said. “This is one event I didn’t want to skip. Arnold has meant so much to me and my family; I thought of him as a close friend. He will be greatly missed and can never truly be replaced.”

Arnold Palmer, who won seven majors, died in September 2016 at the age of 87.

Woods last played at the API in 2013. No other player has won the tournament more than twice.

Woods missed two other events he was scheduled to play: the Genesis Open and the Honda Classic. The Genesis Open supports his foundation.

The American played the Masters two years ago after taking a nine-week break to work on his game. Woods has won the Masters four times and missed it two of the past three years.

Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg stated the golfer’s back spasms did not stem from the nerve issues that led Woods to have two surgeries in late 2015 and sidelined him for over one year.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – DECEMBER 02: Tiger Woods of the United States hits his shot on the second tee during round two of the Hero World Challenge at Albany, The Bahamas on December 2, 2016 in Nassau, Bahamas. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)