Woods: I'll return when my game is ready

(SportsNetwork.com) - Tiger Woods says his game is not "tournament-ready" and he will not play again until it is.

Woods said on his website Wednesday that he would like to play the Honda Classic in two weeks, but will not be in the field unless he feels he can compete.

The 14-time major champion withdrew from last week's Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines after just 11 holes because of tightness in his lower back, but said the injury is not related to the back surgery that sidelined him for several months last year.

It was the third time in his last eight official PGA Tour starts that Woods withdrew because of an injury.

In his first start this season, he shot his worst score as a pro -- an 82 -- and missed the cut in a tie for last place at the Phoenix Open.

"The last two weeks have been very disappointing to me, especially Torrey, because I never want to withdraw," Woods said Wednesday. "Unfortunately, lately injuries have made that happen too often."

Woods said he's undergoing daily physical therapy and is "feeling better every day."

"Right now, I need a lot of work on my game, and to still spend time with the people that are important to me," he said. "My play, and scores, are not acceptable for tournament golf. Like I've said, I enter a tournament to compete at the highest level, and when I think I'm ready, I'll be back.

"Next week I will practice at Medalist and at home getting ready for the rest of the year. I am committed to getting back to the pinnacle of my game. I'd like to play The Honda Classic -- it's a tournament in my hometown and it's important to me -- but I won't be there unless my game is tournament-ready. That's not fair to anyone.

"I do, however, expect to be playing again very soon. I want to thank the fans in Phoenix and San Diego. They were amazing. I greatly appreciate everyone's support."

Woods grimaced through his round last Thursday and later said his injury was exacerbated by a fog delay.

"My glutes are shutting off," he said after withdrawing. "Then they don't activate and then it goes into my lower back. So I tried to activate my glutes as best I could but ... they never stayed activated."

Woods has 79 career titles on the PGA Tour, but none since winning five times in 2013 on the way to his 11th Player of the Year award. He has not claimed a major championship since winning his 14th at the 2008 U.S. Open and remains four shy of Jack Nicklaus' all-time record.