World number one Tiger Woods has announced that he has withdrawn from this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he is the defending champion, with a bad back.
Woods has been plagued by back problems since last year but his condition has worsened over the past month as he failed to finish the Honda Classic earlier this month, and he tweaked his back again at the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami a week later.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the 17-time Major winning American posted a statement on his website saying he told Palmer in person that he would not be able to defend the title he won last year as his back spasms and pain have not yet subsided.
Woods further said that it is yet early for him to say whether he would be playing in the Masters next month.
The Arnold Palmer Invitational is one of Woods' favourite events and he has won the tournament eight times, including each of the past two years, the report added.
