Tiger Woods' absence from competitions will continue indefinitely. The 14-time major tournament champion released a statement Thursday announcing his absence from next week's Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, where he has won the record eight times.

"Unfortunately, during my back rehabilitation I am at rest, I will not be able to play at this year's Arnold Palmer Invitational"said Tiger Woods. “I'm very disappointed mainly because I wanted to be at Bay Hill to pay homage to Arnold. This is an event I didn't want to miss, Arnold meant a lot to me and to my family; .. I considered him a close friend, my children Sam and Charlie, were both born in Winnie Palmer Hospital. He will be sorely missed and can never be replaced ”.

After 16 months of medical leave following multiple back surgeries, Tiger Woods returned to compete for his own Hero World Challenge in December. He started 2017 by announcing his intention to play four events in five weeks, but he ended up only doing three rounds, missing the cut at Open Farmers Insurance and retiring from the Dubai Desert Classic with back spasms. .

Tiger Woods then missed the Genesis Open and Honda Classic - his scheduled departures next - and canceled a scheduled Genesis press conference after his doctors advised him to "Limit all activities."

With the Masters just a month away, Tiger Woods is not offering a date for potential return.

"Currently, I don't have a schedule for my return to golf, but my treatments are continuing and going well," he said.