Ailing Woods not ruling out Masters

Now Tiger Woods has to worry about the Masters.

The world’s No. 1 player, who has never missed the Masters since being the low amateur in 1995, is in jeopardy of ending that streak after pulling out of the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Tuesday, citing back spasms that have plagued him since August.

“I personally called Arnold today to tell him that, sadly, I won’t be able to play in his tournament this year,” Woods wrote on his website. “I would like to express my regrets to the Orlando fans, the volunteers, the tournament staff and the sponsors for having to miss the event. Unfortunately, my back spasms and the pain haven’t subsided.

“It’s too early to know about the Masters, and I will continue to be evaluated and work closely with my doctors.”

While he hasn’t missed a Masters, Woods has been forced out of majors. In 2008, he missed the British Open and PGA Championship following reconstructive surgery on his left knee after winning the 2008 U.S. Open. He missed the 2011 U.S. and British opens because of recurring knee problems and an Achilles injury.

Woods, who won the Arnold Palmer Invitational last year for a record eighth time, dealt with back spasms in his last two events. Two weeks ago in the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship, his back acted up in the third and fourth rounds. Over the final 18 holes, he didn’t make a birdie and shot 78, the worst final-round score of his career. The previous week, Woods withdrew from the Honda Classic with five holes to play because of his back.

In the Barclays in August, back spasms forced Woods to his knees after he hit his second shot on the 13th hole in the final round. Woods was able to finish the round and came one shot short of forcing a playoff. Although he finished second in his own Northwestern Mutual World Golf Challenge in December, he hasn’t been the same since.

Woods is off to the worst start of his professional career. He missed the 54-hole cut in the Farmers Insurance Open and tied for 80th, tied for 41st in the Dubai Desert Classic the following week, withdrew from the Honda Classic and tied for 25th in the Cadillac Championship.

In the Cadillac Championship, Woods was pressed for details about the severity of his back problems, including if there was more to it than back spasms. “Well, it is back spasms; we’ve done all the protocols, and it’s just a matter of keeping everything aligned,” he said. Asked if he had an MRI on his back, he said, “As I said, we’ve done the protocols.”

Earlier that week, Woods said he was more concerned about getting healthy than getting in enough tournaments before the Masters, where he would be going for his fifth green jacket and first since 2005. Woods wasn’t sched- uled to play next week’s Valero Texas Open or the following week’s Shell Houston Open.

Woods has never played the week before the Masters.