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Orlando, Florida | Forget for a moment the number 83. At this moment, the most important number regarding Tiger Woods is eight.
That’s how many competitive rounds Woods – who needs one more victory to break a tie at 82 with Sam Snead for most victories in PGA Tour history – has played this year and with him skipping the Players Championship this week due to lingering stiffness in his back, two questions dominate:
How concerning are his back issues and when might Woods (above) play again?
Woods has said since his return after spinal-fusion surgery that his playing schedule will be dictated by how he feels physically. In explaining Woods’ decision to bypass both the Arnold Palmer Invitational and now the Players Championship, his agent, Mark Steinberg, cited lingering stiffness as the reason Woods didn’t feel ready to play.
On Friday, Woods tweeted: “It was not an easy decision but I will not be attending @THEPLAYERSChamp. I have to listen to my body and properly rest when needed. My back is simply just not ready for play next week. I’m sad to miss one of our best events of the season, OUR championship.”
He didn’t look crisp in his last start at the Genesis Invitational, where he finished last among players who made the cut.
When he elected not to play the WGC-Mexico Championship, it was a small surprise. When Woods skipped Bay Hill, where he has won eight times, it led to speculation that he didn’t want to play two weeks in a row.
By missing the Players Championship, the concern level has grown, though Steinberg has indicated Woods is not dealing with another back injury.
With Woods falling out of the top 10 in the world ranking and further jeopardizing his chance of qualifying for the Olympics in July (something he has said he wants to do), uncertainty continues to swirl about his health and readiness as the Masters nears.
When might Woods play again?
It’s possible, if he feels good enough, he could add the Valspar Championship next week but it has been an infrequent stop for him. Otherwise, his most likely start before the Masters would be at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Championship in two weeks – if he feels ready.
Ron Green Jr.