Tiger Woods announced that he will take some time away after a disastrous performance at The Open.
Woods had two days to forget at Royal Troon, carding an 8-over 79 in the first round before an equally disappointing day on Friday, finishing 14-over par.
It means the 15-time major winner has missed the cut at his third-consecutive major for the first time in a decade.
The last time that happened, Woods missed the U.S. Open, The British Open, and the PGA Championship.
Following Friday’s setback, the 48-year-old confirmed his immediate plans are to improve his game although he will not play again until December.
“I’m not going to play until then,” he told reporters. “I’m just going to keep on getting physically better and keep working on it and then hopefully come back for our fifth major.”
“I’m physically feeling better than I did at the beginning of the year. At the end of last year, it was tough, and I haven’t played a lot. As the year has gone on, I have got better.
“I just wish I could have played more, but I’ve been saving it for the majors just in case I do something pretty major and then take myself out of it. Hopefully next year will be better.
“I need to do a lot more work in the gym and keep progressing.”
The three-time Open winner started Friday with a par on the first hole but found difficulty on the second with a double bogey.
He followed it up with a bogeys on holes no. 5, 9, 12, 14, and 17, finishing on 6-over. The score saw him tied in 149th place – four places off finishing last.
“I’ve won two Open Championships here in Scotland, so I’ve always enjoyed playing up here,” Woods added. “I’ve enjoyed the different types of links that Scotland brings and the challenges. I’ve missed playing Troon.
He followed it up with a bogeys on holes no. 5, 9, 12, 14, and 17, finishing on 6-over. The score saw him tied in 149th place – four places off finishing last.
“I’ve won two Open Championships here in Scotland, so I’ve always enjoyed playing up here,” Woods added. “I’ve enjoyed the different types of links that Scotland brings and the challenges. I’ve missed playing Troon.