Tiger Woods postpones return saying his "game is vulnerable"

The news was the equivalent of a large nail being driven through an ever-expanding balloon.

Former world number one Woods has undergone three back operations in the space of 19 months and has not played competitively since August previous year. But one statement on his website obliterated all that.

The long-awaited return of Tiger Woods has been delayed after the 14-time major victor pulled out of this week's Safeway Open.

Woods has confirmed he will miss the Turkish Airlines Open in November, but said he may be ready for his foundation's event, the Hero World Challenge, in December.

"My health is good, and I feel strong", Woods said on his web site.

"I probably shouldn't disclose too much of what I saw on the Sunday night at the Ryder Cup but I met Tiger for the first time", said Fitzpatrick.

Woods has had three operations on his back in the last two years. "Obviously I wish Tiger the best".

I would like to apologize and send my regrets to Safeway, the Turkish Airlines Open, the fans in California and Turkey and those that had hoped to watch me compete on TV. "I'm close and I won't stop until I get there", he added. I think the point was to have four figureheads, four guys that have been successful as European players and had a good record that would hopefully bring people to the golf tournament to showcase a great event. "I was tweeting and a few other players were tweeting about everyone being excited to see Tiger back and there is just nothing like it".

"Don't ever get old", he reportedly answered.He never again teed it up in a competitive event.Monday's news that Tiger Woods has withdrawn from this week's Safeway Open doesn't feel like his Ben Hogan finish.It doesn't feel like this will be his figurative walk-off moment, if not the literal one Hogan endured. The expectation and nervous level has got to be nearly like when he played in his first LA Open when he was a kid.

At 40, Woods is a full generation older than current superstars Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth, but he is hardly the age of Hogan when he stopped playing.

Woods, who hasn't played since a T10 finish at the Wyndham Championship 14 months ago, caused a stir when he announced last month he "hoped" to return to top flight golf this week. And everybody expects him to come back and play like he did in the year 2000. He's got to break the ice sometime. Join me in taking a look at a handful of rookies who could make noise right away.