Golf: Tiger Woods out of Palmer Invitational as he continues to recover from back injury

Tiger Woods reacts after playing a shot during the Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai on Feb 2, 2017. PHOTO: AFP

LOS ANGELES (REUTERS) - Tiger Woods will miss next week's Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida as he continues back rehabilitation, the American golfer announced on Thursday.

The news comes one month before the first major championship of 2017, the Masters at Augusta National.

"Unfortunately, due to ongoing rest and rehabilitation on my back, I won't be able to play in this year's Arnold Palmer Invitational," Woods, 41, said on his website (www.tigerwoods.com). "I'm especially disappointed because I wanted to be at Bay Hill to help honour Arnold."

This will be the first staging of the PGA Tour event at Bay Hill in Orlando since Palmer died last September.

Woods, a 14-time Major champion, who has hardly played since major back surgery in 2015, gave no indication on when he might return to competition.

"Presently, I have no timetable for my return to golf, but my treatments are continuing and going well," he said.

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