Tiger Woods previously has said he will only return to golf when he can play, practice and recover day after day with no ill effects.
He’s still not there, and for the first time in his career, golf won’t see the former world No. 1 play in a single major this season.
On Tuesday, according to PGA.com, it was announced that Woods would miss the PGA Championship, the final major of the calendar year in men’s golf.
“We have been in contact with Tiger’s agent, Mark Steinberg, and he informed us today that our four-time PGA Champion will be unable to join us at Baltusrol Golf Club next week for the 98th PGA Championship,” PGA of America said in a statement.
The 40-year-old Woods, who has had multiple back surgeries, hasn’t played since last August and has no time frame for his return.
In May, Woods told a media day for the Quicken Loans National at Congressional Country Club in Maryland that he didn’t know whether his return would be “next week or a year from now.” His most recent procedure was September 16.
Even so the 14-time major champion still believes he has a shot at topping Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major titles as well as beating Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA Tour wins.
“It would be nice to end up at No. 1 on both lists,” Woods said in May. “That’s a long way away and it’s going to take time to get to that point but hopefully I can get back out here and play to that level.”
Woods hasn’t won a major since 2008, when he won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. His last top 10 in a major was in 2013 when he finished tied for sixth at the British Open.
This year’s PGA Championship will be held at Baltusrol in Springfield, New Jersey, from July 28-31.