Tiger Woods' return to golf remains on hold, forcing him to miss a week that delivered some of his greatest moments.
Woods announced on his website Thursday he would miss next week's Arnold Palmer Invitational. An eight-time winner at Bay Hill Club and Lodge, Woods forged a strong bond with Palmer, who died on Sept. 25, and wanted to play his tournament if at all possible.
But Woods, 41, continues to rehabilitate a back injury that has sidelined him since early February and has jeopardized his career.
"I'm especially disappointed because I wanted to be at Bay Hill to help honor Arnold. This is one event I didn't want to skip," Woods wrote on his website. "Arnold has meant so much to me and my family; I thought of him as a close friend, and Sam and Charlie (Woods' children) were both born in the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.
"He will be greatly missed and can never truly be replaced."
At the height of his powers, he won the 2003 event by 11 strokes. In 2008 and 2009, Woods made long birdies putts on the final hole to take home the trophy.
In 2012, Woods won at Bay Hill for his first PGA Tour victory since a sex scandal at the end of 2009 upended his life and his golf game. Woods won again in 2013 to tie Sam Snead for the most victories in one tournament.
Woods has not won since the 2013 season due to injuries.
A 79-time winner on the PGA Tour, Woods said he has no timetable for his return, but added, "my treatments are continuing and going well."
