Tiger Woods takes indefinate leave from golf

Legendary golfer Ben Hogan left an adage, "If I miss one day’s practice I know it; if I miss two days’ of practice the spectators know it, and if I miss three days’ the world knows it.” Tiger Woods, who has been struggling in a long slump, has decided to step away from the PGA Tour.

“The last two weeks have been very disappointing to me. My play, and scores, are not acceptable for tournament golf. Right now, I need a lot of work on my game. I enter a tournament to compete at the highest level, and when I think I’m ready, I’ll be back,” Woods wrote at his homepage on Wednesday.

On the golf emperor’s decision to leave tournament, the New York Times reported, “The announcement, made on Woods`s website, was not unexpected.” Last week, the 40-year-old golfer withdrew from the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open due to a stiff back. In his previous tournament, the Phoenix Open, Woods shot an 82 and failed to make the cut in the third round. His world ranking has plummeted to the 62nd, the worst-ever since his debut on the PGA tour in 1996.

“This latest injury is not related to my previous surgery. I am having daily physical therapy, and I am feeling better every day,” Woods said. Some analyze, however, that the real problem lies in his mind. Rumors have been around that Woods is affected by yips (sudden loss of fine motor skills due to fear for failure) as he has been playing short games like a weekend golfer. Playing in competitive tournaments may have been too much for Woods who has entered his 40s and undergone surgeries several times including back and knee. Some point out that Woods’ closed manner to keep secrets about his lessons or rehabilitation exercise might hamper his recovery.

Woods did not reveal when to return to the tour. American sports network ESPN reported Woods is likely to be back for the Arnold Palmer Invitational to be held in the middle of March or the Masters that opens on April 9, this season’s first major tournament. However, the possibility of long leave of absence cannot be ruled out.