Tiger Woods withdraws from this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational

Woods, an eight-time champion of the event at Bay Hill in Florida, is out due a neck strain

Tiger Woods is out of the Arnold Palmer Invitational (Getty)

Tiger Woods will not play at this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Woods, an eight-time champion of the event at Bay Hill in Florida, announced on Monday that he has withdrawn from the field due to a neck strain.

The 43-year-old, who played in the WGC-Mexico Championship two weeks ago, said that he had been struggling with the strain for a number of weeks, but still hopes to play in The Players Championship next week.

“Unfortunately due to a neck strain that I’ve had for a few weeks, I'm forced to withdraw from the API,” Woods commented on his Twitter page.

“I’ve been receiving treatment, but it hasn't improved enough to play. My lower back is fine, and I have no long-term concerns, and I hope to be ready for The Players.

“I'd like to send my regrets to the Palmer family and the Orlando fans. Its connection to Arnold makes it one of my favorite tournaments and I'm disappointed to miss it.”

The withdrawal comes as the first significant blow to Woods since he returned to regularly playing the PGA Tour at the beginning of the 2018 season.

Since his comeback, Woods has finished in the top 20 at the Farmers Insurance Open, the top 15 at the Genesis Open and the top ten at the WGC-Mexico Championship, to start his 2019 season.