Tiger Woods withdrew from the World Golf Championships event at Doral on Sunday after hitting his tee shot on the 12th hole, complaining of a tightness in his left Achilles tendon, the same one he hurt at last year’s Masters tournament.
For the fourth time in five years, Woods faces a major setback to his season, having battled through a left knee injury in 2008 to win the US Open, knee and tendon pain last year.
The former World No. 1 has not won an official event on any tour since the Australian Masters on November 15, 2009, just before the revelations of a secret sex life that led to his divorce from ex-wife Elin Nordegren.
“In the past, I may have tried to continue to play, but this time, I decided to do what I thought was necessary.” Woods said in a statement.