TIME OFF FOR TIGER

Not so long ago, the question about Tiger Woods was when he would get to his 15^th major victory. Now we’re more apt to ask how quickly he can get to the hospital and then the practice range. Both his game and his body need emergency services.

Woods announced on Wednesday (via his website) that he’d be taking some time off from the PGA Tour to let his back heal. He pulled out of the Farmers Insurance Open last week after 11 holes of his first round due to back spasms, and now he’s not sure when he might be (ahem) back.

“The last two weeks have been very disappointing for me,” he said on his website, recollecting his missed cut at the Phoenix Open and the withdrawal at Torrey Pines. “This latest injury is not related to my previous surgery. I am having daily physical therapy and I am feeling better every day.

“Right now, I need a lot of work on my game, and to still spend time with the people that are important to me. My play, and scores, are not acceptable for tournament golf. Like I’ve said, I enter a tournament to compete at the highest level, and when I think I’m ready, I’ll be back.”

He had hoped to play in the Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida in two weeks, which is not far from his Jupiter residence. Now, who knows?

The Honda Classic, he said, is “important to me — but I won’t be there unless my game is tournament-ready. That’s not fair to anyone. I do, however, expect to be playing again very soon.”

Golf is learning to live without Woods. We can only Woods does not have to live without golf.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .